The Economic Burden of Delayed Healthcare Services: A Cross-Sectional Cost Analysis Using Referral Data

Objective: This study investigates the economic burden of delayed healthcare demand during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic by analyzing referral data from a secondary hospital in Türkiye. Material and Methods: Secondary data were used to compare emergency department visits, outpatient clinic visits, and referral numbers before and during the pandemic. The economic burden was calculated using a special formula based on hospital classification and reimbursement rates defined by the Health Implementation Communiqué. Emergency visits, outpatient visits, and referral numbers were compared based on absolute values, percentage shares, and change rates between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. The study includes data from a class C secondary care hospital, and descriptive statistics were applied for comparisons. Results: The results showed a 54% decrease in total hospital visits and a 43% decrease in referrals during the pandemic period. A significant decline was observed in outpatient visits, while emergency visits increased by 4.28%. Despite the decrease in referral numbers, the average payment per referred patient by the Social Security Institution increased by 68%. The study revealed an additional referral cost of 9,192.72 Turkish Lira for the secondary care hospital to Social Security Institution during the pandemic. Conclusion: Delayed healthcare demand significantly increases healthcare expenditures and places an economic burden on the health system. Developing policies to improve healthcare accessibility may help reduce this economic burden.