Cost management of cleft lips under the Universal Health Coverage Program of the Tawanchai Cleft Center, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.

Background: The study ofcost management with regard to cleft lip patients under the Universal Health Coverage Program at Tawanchai Cleft Center Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, was conducted in order to provide fundamental information for the administrative team on how best to administrate and manage the organization.

Objective: To study the cost management of cleft lip patients under the Universal Health Coverage Program. To compare individual patient management costs and costs from the National Health Security Office (NHSO), and to offer proper guidelines for cost management to the organization.

Material And Method: The study was performed retrospectively. The data were collected by reviewing secondary sources of information from patients with cleft lips who consistently underwent treatment at Tawanchai Cleft Center. As for the provider prospects, the cost management did not address the other expenses. The study analyzed the comparison between cost management and income from the Universal Health Coverage Program, which it receivedfrom the National Health Security Office (NHSO). The study was conducted over 2 years (October 1, 2010 to 30 September, 2013). There were 21patients in this study. Microsoft excel was the instrument used to calculate the cost ofmanagement.

Results: (1) Total costs were lower than real payments because this cost did not take into account the total cost of the operation room, patient room, common bed, and costs of the medical equipment. Moreover the information regarding the building's price and the facility were not clear enough. The database of materials and equipment was also not yet complete. (2) The average cost ofpatient management was 12,025.14 Bahtperperson, but the compensation receivedfrom the National Health Security Office (NHSO) averaged 10,527.63 Bahtperperson, which was 87.55% ofthe total cost management. The department with the largest expenses was Anesthesia (36.42%).

Conclusion: This study indicated that the cost of patient management is lower than usual due to the lack of clear cost information. The cost of medical care, which was received from the National Health Security Office (NHSO), was only 87.55%; the department with the highest costs was Anesthesia (36.42%).