Plastic Surgery Hospital Reports Findings in Science (The impact of national health insurance on the cost of auricular reconstruction with skin expansion for microtia in China: A single-center retrospective study based on 1290 surgeries): Science

2024 JUN 03 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- New research on Science is the subject of a report. According to news reporting from Beijing, People’s Republic of China, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Congenital microtia presents challenges that encompass physical disabilities and psychosocial distress. It is reported that people with low income have a higher possibility of giving birth to babies with congenital malformations.”

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from Plastic Surgery Hospital, “At the end of June 2023, auricular reconstruction was partially incorporated into national health insurance in our hospital. Briefly, 1290 surgeries, including stage-I and stage-II auricular reconstruction with tissue expansion were performed in 2023, involving 779 patients. Patient data, including age, sex, length of stay, residence, and costs, were retrieved from the electronic medical record system. The final cost before and after health insurance coverage, as well as the medical insurance reimbursement ratio in each province and municipality were statistically analyzed. Following insurance coverage, a significant increase in the number of surgeries was observed (514 [39.84%] vs. 776 [60.16%], ch = 45.99, p = 0.000), with notable reductions in out-of-pocket costs for unilateral and bilateral stage-I and -II auricular reconstructions ($3915.01 vs. $6645.28, p< 0.05; $11546.80 vs. $5198.08, p< 0.05). Disparities in reimbursement rates across regions were evident, but showed no correlation to the local GDP per capita. There was a positive correlation between the length of stay and inpatient cost. Patient’s age was not related to the inpatient cost, but to the length of stay. The health insurance coverage for microtia treatment significantly alleviated financial burdens on the patients’ family and increased the number of auricular reconstruction surgeries.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “These findings underscore the critical role of insurance coverage in enhancing healthcare accessibility and affordability for patients with congenital microtia.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: The impact of national health insurance on the cost of auricular reconstruction with skin expansion for microtia in China: A single-center retrospective study based on 1290 surgeries. Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 2024;94:62-71. Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery can be contacted at: Elsevier Sci Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, Oxon, England.

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Jiajun Zhi, Dept. of Auricular Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 33 Badachu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100144, People’s Republic of China. Additional authors for this research include Tiange Wang, Bo Pan and Haiyue Jiang.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery is: Elsevier Sci Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, Oxon, England.

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