Insurance Deductions of Hospitals in Iran: Systematic Review of Causes and Solutions to Reduce Deductions

This study was conducted via a systematic review of causes and solutions to reduce insurance deductions of hospitals in Iran. This study was conducted via a systematic review. The researchers reviewed studies that investigated the causes or solutions to hospital deductions or both of them up to 2017, based on keywords that included deductible, hospital, bill of insurance, and hospital records through databases, search engines, and related journals. The extracted data form for each article was completed and finally, the data were categorized, summarized, and analyzed. In the initial search, 114 articles were found. After reviewing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 articles were analyzed. The main categories of the reasons for deductions were comprised of 15 areas that were classified into the two main areas of documentation flaws during the provision of services and the difficulties with the preparation, adjustment, and sending documents. Analyzing the articles for the reduction of deductions showed that these solutions were classified into 9 main areas of reforming the planning, training, monitoring, reforming the registration process, governance issues, reforming the documentation process, reforming the structure, complying with the rules of the insurance organization, and modifying the process. Computational errors, lack of hospital supervision, and errors related to the date and time of the documents constituted the main causes of deductions, and the reform of planning, education, and supervision were among the most important suggested ways to reduce deductions. Reviewing professionally related papers showed that specialist doctors and nurses are professionals who are more involved in making deductions. In terms of the type of offered services, the surgery, paraclinical services, and the drug were at the top of the reasons for deductions. The hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health, which are faced with the problem of inadequate hospital revenues, as well as chief executives, can benefit from the results of this study to understand the financial performance of these centers.