Impacts of DRG point-based payment system on healthcare resource utilization and provider behavior: a pilot quasi-experimental study in China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Developing countries commonly face challenges regarding budget constraints and inadequate cost-accounting capabilities during the implementation of a Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) payment system. China has initiated pilot reforms of the Diagnosis-Related Group point-based payment system (DRG-PBPS) in 40 cities. DRG-PBPS, using historical cost data, integrates global budgeting with case-based point-weighted payments. In this study, its impact on inpatient resource utilization is evaluated and potential strategic behaviors of healthcare providers are examined.

Methods

Using administrative data from 15,744 inpatient records of cerebral infarction cases from January 2018 to December 2022 in a Chinese city, this study uses a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to

SUBMITTER: Huang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12537663 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature