The impact of periodic updates to health benefits plan: access gains without cost savings?

ABSTRACT: Expanding explicit Health Benefit Plans (HBP) is a key strategy for achieving universal health coverage while maintaining financial sustainability. However, little is known about the broader effects of periodic updates to these plans on healthcare utilization, expenditures, and market dynamics. This study examines the impact of including new health technologies in Colombia's HBP covered by the Capitation Payment Unit (CPU) between 2012 and 2019, using administrative data and a difference-in-differences approach with multiple periods. Our results indicate that inclusion in the HBP-CPU led to a substantial increase in utilization and access, particularly in remote areas, but had mixed effects on expenditures. While the number of unique users and prescription frequency rose significantly, the

SUBMITTER: Espinosa O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12568849 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature