Primary Lymphedema Secondary Lymphedema Clinical Trial
Official title:
Out-of Pocket Payments in Patients With Lymphedema in France and Inequities of Access ti Healthcare
Lymphedema is a frequent and chronic condition posing a high burden on patients. Clinical
guidelines emphasize the role of compression therapy by prescription medical devices. Even in
a mandatory publicly funded health insurance system, out-of-pocket payments (OOPP) may exist
due to the price and reimbursement setting processes. OOPP may threaten the equity of care
and drive patients to forgo care. Our aim was to analyze the distributive effects of OOPP for
lymphedema patients in France.
A prospective, multicenter study will be conducted in France in 2014 on patients with
lymphedema. Household ability to pay will be specified by net income and OOPP will be
assessed prospectively over 6 months for outpatient care (visits, drugs, medical devices,
nursing care, biological tests, imaging, physiotherapy and transportations). Both mandatory
and voluntary health insurance reimbursements will be considered. We will combine
concentration curves and concentration indices to assess the distributive effects.
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