A decision-tree-based analysis of the factors influencing single disease costs

High and rapidly growing health-care costs pose a challenging problem around the world. Based on the fundamental realities of the country, China developed the single disease payment system. To overcome the drawbacks of a single payment standard, this study uses acute appendicitis as an example to build a decision-tree classification model and to propose a graded charging schedule. The study explored the important factors that affect medical costs from the perspective of the patients´ condition and constitution and divided the medical cost into 3 levels based on these factors. It is concluded that patients´ condition and constitution have a significant influence on their medical expenses. We used Clementine 12.0 as the data mining tool in the study.