Impact of universal medical insurance system on the accessibility of medical service supply and affordability of patients in China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

China's universal medical insurance system (UMIS) is designed to promote social fairness through improving access to medical services and reducing out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for all Chinese. However, it is still not known whether UMIS has a significant impact on the accessibility of medical service supply and the affordability, as well as the seeking-care choice, of patients in China.

Methods

Segmented time-series regression analysis, as a powerful statistical method of interrupted time series design, was used to estimate the changes in the quantity and quality of medical service supply before and after the implementation of UMIS. The rates of catastrophic payments and seeking-care choices for UMIS beneficiaries were selected to measure the affordability and medica

SUBMITTER: Xiong X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5841764 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature