Why Investing in National Hospital Costing Systems Matters for Universal Healthcare

Countries need to know what they are spending if they wish to provide universal health care sustainably. A centralized cost accounting system helps countries anticipate expenditure needs which they can use to set hospital reimbursement rates to be more aligned with available budgets. A good system has strong institutional arrangements, and is transparent in how data is collected and used.

However many countries have struggled with developing a cost system as doing so is complex, takes time and there is no clear path. This virtual session will bring together key experts to discuss the different approaches taken to developing cost systems for hospital payment reform, the challenges faced and propose novel solutions. Discussion topics include:

· Cost data needs and institutional arrangements for data collection

· The feasibility of such systems in less well-resourced mixed health systems

· Experiences of developing a fully digital system – strengths and challenges

· Relationships between payers and providers especially in regards to long term implementation