Presentation
I am a researcher at Kela’s Research Unit. In particular, my areas of research include the reimbursement system for medicine expenses and the allocation of reimbursements for medicine expenses as well as, more broadly, register-based study on healthcare and social welfare.
Expertise
- reimbursement system for medicine expenses
- register-based study on healthcare and social welfare
Ongoing research projects
Previous research projects
- The Effects of the Changes in the Special Reimbursement Rate of Type 2 Diabetes Medicines on the Use of Diabetes Medicines and Take-Up of Social Assistance
- Pharmaceutical Treatment of Persons With Developmental Disabilities in Finland From 2014 to 2018
- Use and Costs of Social and Health Services and Social Security Benefits in Oulu, 2013–2018
Publications
- Räsänen, T., Saarikallio-Torp, M., Rättö, H., & Kari, H. (2025). The impact of day care attendance on antibiotic use among children aged 0-12 years: A population-based register study. PloS one, 20(11), e0335354. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335354
- Kolari, T. A., Vuori, M., Rättö, H., Varimo, E. A., Aronen, E. T., Auranen, K., Saastamoinen, L. K., & Ruokoniemi, P. T. (2025). Duration of ADHD medication treatment among Finnish children and adolescents ‒ a nationwide register study. European child & adolescent psychiatry, 34(10), 3151–3160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-025-02735-4
- Rättö, H., Lavikainen, P., Aaltonen, K., Martikainen, J., Gallardo Martínez, M., & Thomson, S. (2025). The impact of increasing user charges for diabetes medicines: lessons from Finland. WHO Regional Office for Europe.
- Korpela, T., Blomgren, J., Rättö, H., & Vaalavuo, M. (2025). Toimeentulotuen saajien terveys. In P. Saikkonen, & S. Mukkila (eds.). Toimeentulotuki 2020-luvulla: Tavoitteena parempi viimesijainen turva (Raportti 2/2025). Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-408-450-5
- Rättö, H., Kurko, T., Pajunen, P., & Kastarinen, H. (2024). Second-line pharmacotherapy intensification after metformin monotherapy in type 2 diabetes: a nationwide register study from Finland during 2011-2022. BMC health services research, 24(1), 944. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11325-0
- Rättö, H., Nurminen, M., & Aaltonen, K. (2024). Prescribing patterns before the initiation of novel antidiabetic medicines in public, occupational, and private healthcare: a register study reflecting the guidelines of care in type 2 diabetes. BMC health services research, 24(1), 1553. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12010-y
- Rättö, H. (2024). Impacts of policy changes and the role of institutional structures in healthcare: Exploring outcomes related to the pharmacological care of type 2 diabetes. UTUPub. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2024080663831
- Kari, H., Nurminen, F., Rättö, H., & Koskinen, H. (2024). Non-dispensed prescriptions – A nationwide descriptive study. Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, 100541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100541
- Kolari, T. A., Vuori, M., Rättö, H., Varimo, E. A., Aronen, E. T., Saastamoinen, L. K., & Ruokoniemi, P. T. (2024). Incidence of ADHD medication use among Finnish children and adolescents in 2008-2019: a need for practice changes? Scandinavian journal of public health, 53(8), 934–938. https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948231219826
- Rättö, H., Aaltonen, K., & Kurko, T. (2024). Erityiskorvattavuus ja lääkkeiden käytön aloittaminen: Rekisteritutkimus uusista tyypin 2 diabeteslääkkeistä. Kela. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-284-202-2
- Nurminen, M., & Rättö, H. (2023). Impact of diabetes diagnosis on dental care utilization: evidence from Finland. Health economics review, 13(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13561-023-00440-z
- Kari, H., Rättö, H., Saastamoinen, L., & Koskinen, H. (2023). Outpatient antibiotic prescribing during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide register-based time series analysis. PloS one, 18(12), e0296048. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0296048
- Nurminen, F., Koskinen, H., Rättö, H., Heino, P., & Kari, H. (2023). Lääkkeet ja lääkeala muuttuvassa toimintaympäristössä: Lääkerekisteriaineistojen kuvaus. Kela. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20231220155977
- Blomgren, J., Korpela, T., & Rättö, H. (2023). Toimeentulotuen saajien terveysperusteisten etuuksien ja terveyspalveluiden käyttö: Rekisteritarkastelu Helsingistä ja Oulusta. Kela. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20231011139594
- Rättö H, Aaltonen K. The effect of pharmaceutical co-payment increase on the use of social assistance -A natural experiment study. PLoS One. 2021 May 5;16(5):e0250305. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250305.
- Rättö H, Kurko T, Martikainen JE, Aaltonen K. The impact of a co-payment increase on the consumption of type 2 antidiabetics - A nationwide interrupted time series analysis. Health Policy. 2021 Sep;125(9):1166-1172. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.05.007. Epub 2021 May 21.
- Varimo E, Aronen ET, Mogk H, Rättö H, Saastamoinen LK. Antipsychotic Treatment Duration in Children and Adolescents: A Register-Based Nationwide Study. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2021 Aug;31(6):421-429. doi: 10.1089/cap.2020.0095. Epub 2021 Mar 18. PMID: 33739863.
- Varimo E, Saastamoinen LK, Rättö H, Mogk H, Aronen ET. New Users of Antipsychotics Among Children and Adolescents in 2008-2017: A Nationwide Register Study. Front Psychiatry. 2020 Apr 24;11:316. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00316.
- Rättö H, Blomgren J, Salminen A-L. Kelan järjestämän kuntoutuksen hylkäykset 2005–2017. Työpapereita 153. 2020. Helsinki: Kela. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2020060941240
