The role of payment sources in the continuation of rehabilitation therapy in tertiary hospitals for patients with traumatic spinal cord injury: a study in Southwest China.

ABSTRACT

Medical security support for rehabilitation therapy in China is different from that in other countries. We investigated whether the discharge plan to continue rehabilitation therapy in tertiary hospitals for patients after traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) was influenced by payment sources or other conditions. This was a cross-sectional, observational study. Information was collected on the general condition, caregiver, types of payment sources for continued rehabilitation, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) scores, and discharge plans. In total, 135 patients with TSCI (107 male, mean age 41.00 ± 13.73 years, mean spinal cord injury duration 238.43 ± 345.54 days) were enrolled. Medical insurance (43%) and out-of-pocket payments (27.4%) were the primary payment sources. Although most patients were beyond the acute phase, 40% continued rehabilitation therapy at other tertiary hospitals. The caregiver, payment sources, injury level, AIS level, and complete urinary tract infection (UTI) were different due to discharge plans (p > .05). Patients seemingly consider a higher AIS level and co-UTI as the requirement for tertiary hospital therapy. In non-medical insurance payment source patients, the discharge plan also differed due to the AIS level and co-UTI (p > .05). However, in medical insurance patients, the discharge plan differed only in terms of TSCI duration (p > .05). The restricted duration of medical coverage restricted the continuation of rehabilitation therapy and influenced the discharge plan of most patients with TSCI.