THE EFFECT OF HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY ON HEALTH EXPENDITURES

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography imaging services, which are within the scope of health technologies, on Health Expenditures. Panel analyses was used for the analyses. In the study, health expenditures were determined as the dependent variable, and the number of MR imaging and CT imaging within the scope of health technology as the independent variable, and 16 countries with regular data for the years 2007-2018 were included in the analysis. These countries were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, The Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that a one-unit increase in the number of Computed Tomography imaging increased health expenditures by 3.23 units, and a one-unit increase in the number of Magnetic Resonance imaging increased health expenditures by 21.9 units. The results of the study revealed that there was a positive and long-term relationship between health expenditures and the number of Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and there was a causal relationship in different directions between the variables. In addition, it has been determined that the number of Magnetic Resonance Imaging has increased more than the number of Computed Tomography imaging over the years, and that the number of Magnetic Resonance Imaging has a higher impact on health expenditures than Computed Tomography. When these two results were evaluated together, it is predicted that evaluating Magnetic Resonance Imaging and developing remedial activities will reduce health expenditures.