Browsing by Author "Viriyathorn S."

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemMetadata only
    Definition, Practice, Regulations, and Effects of Balance Billing: A Scoping Review
    (2023-01-01) Viriyathorn S.; Witthayapipopsakul W.; Kulthanmanusorn A.; Rittimanomai S.; Khuntha S.; Patcharanarumol W.; Tangcharoensathien V.; Mahidol University
    Background: Additional billing is commonly and legally practiced in some countries for patients covered by health insurance. However, knowledge and understanding of the additional billings are limited. This study reviews evidence on additional billing practices including definition, scope of practice, regulations and their effects on insured patients. Methods: A systematic search of the full-text papers that provided the details of balance billing for health services, written in English, and published between 2000 and 2021 was carried out in Scopus, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science. Articles were screened independently by at least 2 reviewers for eligibility. Thematic analysis was applied. Results: In total, 94 studies were selected for the final analysis. Most of the included articles (83%) reported findings from the United States (US). Numerous terms of additional billings were used across countries such as balance billing, surprise billing, extra billing, supplements and out-of-pocket (OOP) spending. The range of services incurred these additional bills also varied across countries, insurance plans, and healthcare facilities; the frequently reported were emergency services, surgeries, and specialist consultation. There were a few positive though more studies reported negative effects of the substantial additional bills which undermined universal health coverage (UHC) goals by causing financial hardship and reducing access to care. A range of government measures had been applied to mitigate these adverse effects, but some difficulties still exist. Conclusion: Additional billings varied in terms of terminology, definitions, practices, profiles, regulations, and outcomes. There were a set of policy tools aimed to control substantial billing to insured patients despite some limitations and challenges. Governments should apply multiple policy measures to improve financial risk protection to the insured population.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemMetadata only
    How inclusive were strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for people with disabilities? Evidence from qualitative research in eight low- and middle-income countries
    (2025-12-01) Hunt X.; Marks S.; Hameed S.; Srisuppaphon D.; Diez-Canseco F.; Riewpaiboon W.; Viriyathorn S.; Tangcharoensathien V.; Goyal D.; Smythe T.; Khan R.S.; Ngoc L.A.; Ganle J.; Tetali S.; Huq L.; Shakespeare T.; Ilkkursun Z.; Acarturk C.; Mai V.Q.; Banks L.M.; Hunt X.; Mahidol University
    Background: From the outset of the pandemic there were calls to ensure people with disabilities were included in prevention and response measures, given their increased risk of health consequences from COVID-19 infection. This study sought to explore people with disabilities’ experiences of inclusion in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to understand how such responses can be more inclusive in the future. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 372 people with disabilities and their caregivers in Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Peru, Thailand, Türkiye (with Syrian refugees), Viet Nam, and Zimbabwe between 1 December 2020 and 28 February 2023, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The study found that people with disabilities demonstrated high levels of knowledge about COVID-19 and were willing to adhere to prevention measures. However, participants noted that countries’ COVID-19 responses were largely not inclusive of people with disabilities; that pandemic information was seldom available in accessible formats; and that adhering to social distancing and other mandates was challenging and incurred personal and economic costs. Conclusions: Consequently, the pandemic compounded existing barriers and inaccessibility experienced by people with disabilities and contributed to inequality.