Low-Cost, High-Volume Health Services Contribute the Most to Unnecessary Health Spending due to Low-Value Care in Japan.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

As healthcare costs continue to rise, high-income countries-including Japan-face the urgent task of reducing healthcare spending incurred by low-value care. However, evidence is limited as to which low-value care services contribute most to unnecessary healthcare spending outside of the United States.

Objective

To identify which low-value care services contribute the most to unnecessary healthcare spending in Japan.

Design setting and participants

The cross-sectional study of all beneficiaries using a population-based claims database from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, encompassing all age groups, reflecting approximately 2% of the total Japanese population.

Main outcomes and measures

We identified 52 low-value care services based on clinical evid

SUBMITTER: Miyawaki A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12407603 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature