This paper aims to provide a quantitative analysis of the influence of an aging population on the financing of Japan’s universal health insurance system and potential reform policies. We construct a general equilibrium life-cycle model to study the effects of aging on the tax burden, individual behaviors, the aggregate economy, and welfare. We also evaluate various policy alternatives designed ...

Flavones correspond to a flavonoid subgroup that is widely distributed in the plants, and which can be synthesized by different pathways, depending on whether they contain C- or O-glycosylation and hydroxylated B-ring. Flavones are emerging as very important specialized metabolites involved in plant signaling and defense, as well as key ingredients of the human diet, with significant health ben...

OBJECTIVE Numerous scientific studies show that certain combinations of dietary and/or lifestyle factors produce health benefits which are greater than the sum of the benefits associated with each factor alone. To address an existing knowledge gap, we assessed the extent to which individuals understand that certain combinations present these 'synergistic health benefits'. DESIGN Health benefi...

Private health insurance benefit payments are an integral component of estimates of national health expenditures. Recent analyses indicate that the insurance industry has undergone significant changes since the mid-1970's. As a result of these study findings and corresponding changes to estimating techniques, private health insurance estimates have been revised upward. This has had a major impa...

BACKGROUND Equitable utilization of health care is a primary goal of the Chinese health system. This study aimed to examine horizontal inequity in health care utilization and identify the factors resulting in inequity among the middle-aged and elderly in China. METHODS The data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We employed the concentration index ...

The quality of patient care varies based on numerous factors, such as health care setting, geographic location, access to medications, insurance coverage, and treatment protocols. Recently, the issue of whether use of clinical pathways can reduce costs and inappropriate variability in care has been the subject of much debate. As clinical treatment guidelines and pathways are increasingly deploy...

background performance evaluation is essential to quality improvement in healthcare. the current study has identified the potential pros and cons of external healthcare evaluation programs, utilizing them subsequently to look into the merits of a similar case in a developing country.   methods a mixed method study employing both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniqu...

This article introduces an empirical strategy to the compensating differentials literature that (i) allows both individual observed and unobserved characteristics to be rewarded differently in firms based on health insurance provision, and (ii) selection to jobs that provide benefits to operate on both sides of the labor market. Estimates of this model are used to directly test empirical assump...

During the past five decades recreational alpine skiing has become increasingly safer. The numerous annual media reports on ski injuries have to be interpreted on the basis of the tremendous numbers of skiers. These favourable changes seem primarily be due to the introduction of short carving skis, more rigid and comfortable ski boots, the use of protective gear like helmets, and the optimized ...

the rational use of insurance finance, insurance benefits decision based on evidence, or clinical decision based on direct evidence, is not different. Therefore, demand for these research activities will increase in the future in Korea. Recently, the National Evidencebased Healthcare Collaborating Agency has launched a research project about CER and the Korean Association of Medical Science has...