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Li J, Gao T, Zhao D, Chai S, Luo J, Wang X, Wang X, Sun J, Li P, Zhou C. Catastrophic health expenditure and health-related quality of life among older adults in Shandong, China: the moderation effect of daily care by adult children. Int J Equity Health 2024; 23:51. [PMID: 38468257 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-02057-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) has a considerable impact on older people in later life, but little is known about the relationship between catastrophic health expenditure and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between catastrophic health expenditure and health-related quality of life in older people, and to explore whether the daily care provided by adult children is a moderator in this relationship. METHODS Data from the sixth National Health Services Survey in Shandong Province, China. The sample consisted of 8599 elderly people (age ≥ 60 years; 51.7% of female). Health-related quality of life was measured by the health utility value of EQ-5D-3 L. Interaction effects were analyzed using Tobit regression models and marginal effects analysis. RESULTS The catastrophic health expenditure prevalence was 60.5% among older people in Shandong, China. catastrophic health expenditure was significantly associated with lower health-related quality of life (β= - 0.142, P < 0.001). We found that adult children providing daily care services to their parents mitigated the effect of catastrophic health expenditure on health-related quality of life among older people (β = 0.027, P = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggested that catastrophic health expenditure was associated with health-related quality of life and the caring role of older adult children moderated this relationship. Reducing the damage caused by catastrophic health expenditure helps to improve health-related quality of life in older people. Adult children should increase intergenerational contact, provide timely financial and emotional support to reduce the negative impact of catastrophic health expenditure on health-related quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayan Li
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wen-hua-xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Tingting Gao
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wen-hua-xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Dan Zhao
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wen-hua-xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Shujun Chai
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wen-hua-xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Jingjing Luo
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wen-hua-xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Xuehong Wang
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wen-hua-xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Xueqing Wang
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wen-hua-xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Jingjie Sun
- Shandong Health Commission Medical Management Service Center, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Peilong Li
- Shandong Health Commission Medical Management Service Center, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Chengchao Zhou
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wen-hua-xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
- Institute of Health and Elderly Care, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University), Jinan, 250012, China.
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Wang X, Guo Y, Qin Y, Nicholas S, Maitland E, Liu C. Regional catastrophic health expenditure and health inequality in China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1193945. [PMID: 37927884 PMCID: PMC10624124 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1193945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) can trigger illness-caused poverty and compound poverty-caused illness. Our study is the first regional comparative study to analyze CHE trends and health inequality in eastern, central and western China, exploring the differences and disparities across regions to make targeted health policy recommendations. Methods Using data from China's Household Panel Study (CFPS), we selected Shanghai, Henan and Gansu as representative eastern-central-western regional provinces to construct a unique 5-year CHE unbalanced panel dataset. CHE incidence was measured by calculating headcount; CHE intensity was measured by overshoot and CHE inequality was estimated by concentration curves (CC) and the concentration index (CI). A random effect model was employed to analyze the impact of household head socio-economic characteristics, the household socio-economic characteristics and household health utilization on CHE incidence across the three regions. Results The study found that the incidence and intensity of CHE decreased, but the degree of CHE inequality increased, across all three regions. For all regions, the trend of inequality first decreased and then increased. We also revealed significant differences across the eastern, central and western regions of China in CHE incidence, intensity, inequality and regional differences in the CHE influencing factors. Affected by factors such as the gap between the rich and the poor and the uneven distribution of medical resources, families in the eastern region who were unmarried, use supplementary medical insurance, and had members receiving outpatient treatment were more likely to experience CHE. Families with chronic diseases in the central and western regions were more likely to suffer CHE, and rural families in the western region were more likely to experience CHE. Conclusions The trends and causes of CHE varied across the different regions, which requires a further tilt of medical resources to the central and western regions; improved prevention and financial support for chronic diseases households; and reform of the insurance reimbursement policy of outpatient medical insurance. On a regional basis, health policy should not only address CHE incidence and intensity, but also its inequality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Wang
- School of Management, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan Guo
- School of Management, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang Qin
- Dispatching and Operation Department, Construction and Management Bureau of the North Hu Bei Water Transfer Project, Wuhan, China
| | - Stephen Nicholas
- Australian National Institute of Management and Commerce, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Economics and School of Management, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
- Research Institute for International Strategies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, China
- Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Maitland
- School of Management, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Cai Liu
- School of Management, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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Gaddam R, Rao KR. Incidence, Inequality and Determinants of Catastrophic Health Expenditure in India. JOURNAL OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT 2023. [DOI: 10.1177/09720634231153226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
This study tries to estimate the incidence, intensity and inequality of Catastrophic Health Expenditure in India and its determinants using unit-level data from the four consecutive surveys of NSSO on ‘Healthcare Consumption and Morbidity’ spread across a 23-year period. For CHE incidence, a 10% threshold level of household consumption expenditure is considered. Additionally, socio-economic determinants of CHE were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Study reveals that the demand for healthcare services has increased gradually during the period 1995–2014 but this demand is primarily financed from out-of-pocket expenditures and hence leading to an increased risk of financial catastrophe, peaking at 23.45% in 2014. But a significant reduction in demand for healthcare is seen in the latest 75th round. Although the incidence of catastrophe has decreased, the inequality of catastrophic burden has increased. The results show that economic and social vulnerability have a significant impact on the likelihood of CHE incidence in households. The findings suggest that a targeted approach is required to alleviate the socially and economically vulnerable households from health expenditure catastrophe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohin Gaddam
- School of Economics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - K. Ramachandra Rao
- School of Economics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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Poverty Reduction Effects of Medical Insurance on Middle-Aged and Elderly Families under the Goal of Common Prosperity in China. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11040477. [PMID: 36833011 PMCID: PMC9956826 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11040477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Eliminating poverty due to illness is an important way for China to pursue common prosperity. The high medical expenditure caused by the aging population has brought severe challenges to governments and families of all countries, especially in China, where the entire population has just been lifted out of poverty in 2020 and then hit by COVID-19. How to prevent the possible return of poor boundary families to poverty in China has become a difficult research topic. Based on the latest data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, this paper discusses the poverty reduction effect of medical insurance on middle-aged and elderly families from the absolute index and relative index. Medical insurance had a poverty reduction effect on middle-aged and elderly families, especially the poor boundary families. For example, people who participated in medical insurance reduced their financial burden by 2.36% for middle-aged and older families compared to people who did not participate in medical insurance. Furthermore, the poverty reduction effect had heterogeneity in gender and age. This research brings some policy implications. For example, the government should give more protection to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and low-income families and improve the fairness and effectiveness of the medical insurance system.
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Giang NH, Vinh NT, Phuong HT, Thang NT, Oanh TTM. Household financial burden associated with healthcare for older people in Viet Nam: a cross-sectional survey. Health Res Policy Syst 2022; 20:112. [PMID: 36443746 PMCID: PMC9706832 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-022-00913-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Population ageing and the associated increase in the healthcare needs of older people are putting pressure on the healthcare system in Viet Nam. The country prioritizes healthcare for older people and has developed financial protection policies to mitigate financial hardship due to out-of-pocket health expenditures (OOPHEs) borne by their households. This study examines the level and determinants of the financial burden of OOPHE among households with people aged ≥ 60 years in Viet Nam. METHODS A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among a sample of 1536 older people living in 1477 households in three provinces representing the North, Central and South regions of Viet Nam during 2019-2020. The financial outcomes were catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), using WHO's definition, and financial distress due to OOPHE. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the factors associated with these outcomes. RESULTS OOPHE for older household members accounted for 86.3% of total household health expenditure. Of households with older people, 8.6% (127) faced CHE, and 12.2% (181) experienced financial distress due to OOPHE. Households were at a higher risk of incurring financial burdens related to health expenditures if they had fewer household members; included only older people; were in rural or remote, mountainous areas; and had older members with noncommunicable diseases. There was no significant association between health insurance coverage and financial burden. However, when older people sought tertiary care or private care, the possibility of a household facing CHE increased. Regardless of the type and level of care, health service utilization by older people results in a higher likelihood of a household encountering financial distress. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals that OOPHE for older people can impose substantial financial burdens on households, leading them to face CHE and financial distress. This study provides evidence to justify reforming financial protection policies and introducing policy interventions targeted at better protecting older people and their households from the financial consequences of OOPHE. There is also the need to strengthen the grassroots health facilities to provide primary care closer to home at lower costs, particularly for the management of noncommunicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Hoang Giang
- grid.492361.b0000 0004 0642 7152Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Lane 196, Ho Tung Mau Street, Mai Dich Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Nguyen The Vinh
- grid.492361.b0000 0004 0642 7152Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Lane 196, Ho Tung Mau Street, Mai Dich Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Hoang Thi Phuong
- grid.492361.b0000 0004 0642 7152Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Lane 196, Ho Tung Mau Street, Mai Dich Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Nguyen Thi Thang
- grid.492361.b0000 0004 0642 7152Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Lane 196, Ho Tung Mau Street, Mai Dich Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Tran Thi Mai Oanh
- grid.492361.b0000 0004 0642 7152Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Lane 196, Ho Tung Mau Street, Mai Dich Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Viet Nam
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Tian W, Wu B, Yang Y, Lai Y, Miao W, Zhang X, Zhang C, Xia Q, Shan L, Yang H, Yang H, Huang Z, Li Y, Zhang Y, Ding F, Tian Y, Li H, Liu X, Li Y, Wu Q. Degree of protection provided by poverty alleviation policies for the middle-aged and older in China: evaluation of effectiveness of medical insurance system tools and vulnerable target recognition. Health Res Policy Syst 2022; 20:129. [DOI: 10.1186/s12961-022-00929-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
China’s medical insurance schemes and poverty alleviation policy at this stage have achieved population-wide coverage and the system's universal function. At the late stage of the elimination of absolute poverty task, how to further exert the poverty alleviation function of the medical insurance schemes has become an important agenda for targeted poverty alleviation. To analyse the risk of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) occurrence in middle-aged and older adults with vulnerability characteristics from the perspectives of social, regional, disease, health service utilization and medical insurance schemes.
Methods
We used data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) database and came up with 9190 samples. The method for calculating the CHE was adopted from WHO. Logistic regression was used to determine the different characteristics of middle-aged and older adults with a high probability of incurring CHE.
Results
The overall regional poverty rate and incidence of CHE were similar in the east, central and west, but with significant differences among provinces. The population insured by the urban and rural integrated medical insurance (URRMI) had the highest incidence of CHE (21.17%) and health expenditure burden (22.77%) among the insured population. Integration of Medicare as a medical insurance scheme with broader benefit coverage did not have a significant effect on the incidence of CHE in middle-aged and older people with vulnerability characteristics.
Conclusions
Based on the perspective of Medicare improvement, we conducted an in-depth exploration of the synergistic effect of medical insurance and the poverty alleviation system in reducing poverty, and we hope that through comprehensive strategic adjustments and multidimensional system cooperation, we can lift the vulnerable middle-aged and older adults out of poverty.
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Koo JH, Jung HW. Which indicator should be used? A comparison between the incidence and intensity of catastrophic health expenditure: using difference-in-difference analysis. HEALTH ECONOMICS REVIEW 2022; 12:58. [PMID: 36367579 PMCID: PMC9650821 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-022-00403-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) represents out-of-pocket payment as a share of household income. Most previous studies have focused on incidence aspects when assessing health policy effects. However, because CHE incidence is a binary variable, the effect of the health policy could not accurately be evaluated. On the contrary, the intensity of CHE is a continuous variable that can yield completely different results from previous studies. This study reassesses the coverage expansion plan for four serious diseases using the intensity of CHE in Korea. METHODS We used the Korea Health Panel Study from 2013 to 2015 to conduct the analysis. The study population is households with chronic diseases patients. We divided the population into two groups: the policy beneficiary group, i.e., households with a patient of any of the four serious diseases, and the non-beneficiary group. A difference-in-difference model was employed to compare the variation in the intensity and incidence of CHE between the two groups. We defined the incidence of CHE as when the ratio of out-of-pocket medical expenses to household income is more than a threshold of 10%, and the intensity of CHE is the height of the ratio subtracting the threshold 10%. RESULTS The increased rate of CHE intensity in households with four serious diseases was lower than that in households with other chronic diseases. The interaction term, which represents the effect of the policy, has a significant impact on the intensity but not on the incidence of CHE. CONCLUSIONS CHE indicators should be applied differently according to the purpose of policy evaluation. The incidence of CHE should be used as the final achievement indicator, and the intensity of CHE should be used as the process indicator. Furthermore, because CHE has an inherent characteristic that is measured by the ratio of household income to medical expenses, to lower this, a differential out-of-pocket maximum policy for each income class is more appropriate than a policy for strengthening the coverage for specific diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Hyuk Koo
- Yonsei University Wonju Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Wonju, South Korea
| | - Hyun Woo Jung
- Department of Health Administration, Graduate School BK21 Graduate Program of Developing Glocal Experts in Health Policy and Management, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea
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Cao H, Xu X, You H, Gu J, Hu H, Jiang S. Healthcare Expenditures among the Elderly in China: The Role of Catastrophic Medical Insurance. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14313. [PMID: 36361192 PMCID: PMC9656772 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
China has been piloting the catastrophic medical insurance (CMI) program since 2012 and rolled it out nationally in 2016 to reduce the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure among Chinese residents. Few studies have been conducted to determine its effect on healthcare expenditures, particularly among the elderly. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of CMI on healthcare expenditures among China's elderly population. The data for this study were derived from 4 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which included 344 and 1199 individuals in the treatment and control groups, respectively. To examine the effect of CMI on healthcare expenditures among the elderly, we used difference-in-differences and fixed-effects models. Additionally, a heterogeneity analysis was used to examine the differences in the impact of CMI on different groups. Finally, we confirmed the robustness of the results using robustness and placebo tests. CMI increased total health and out-of-pocket expenditures significantly, as well as inpatient and corresponding out-of-pocket expenditures. The reassults of the heterogeneity analysis indicated that CMI had a greater impact on elderly residents of rural areas. Economic burden protection has been enhanced for low-income groups and patients with serious diseases over the last two years. Our research indicated that CMI can promote the use of inpatient medical services for the elderly to a certain extent. Targeted measures such as expanding the CMI compensation list, establishing a more precise compensation scheme, and specific diseases associated with high healthcare expenditures can be considered in the practice of CMI implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Cao
- Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Center for Health Policy and Management Studies, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xinpeng Xu
- Institute of Healthy Jiangsu Development, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
- School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Hua You
- Institute of Healthy Jiangsu Development, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
- School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Jinghong Gu
- College of Art and Sciences, University of Washington, 1400 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Hongyan Hu
- Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Shan Jiang
- Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
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Yu H, Peng Y, Pu L. Study on the Impact of Government Health Expenditure Equity on Residents' Health Level in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle of China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12758. [PMID: 36232058 PMCID: PMC9566478 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND When the global COVID-19 epidemic continues to spread, residents pay more attention to their health. This paper studies the relationship between the equity of government health expenditure and the health level of residents. METHODS The Theil index and a principal component analysis were used to measure the equity of government health expenditure and the health level of residents in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. Then, an empirical study on the relationship between the equity of government health expenditure and the health level of residents in this region was conducted with the System GMM model. RESULTS 1. The Theil index rose from 0.0115 in 2015 to 0.0231 in 2017 and gradually decreased to 0.0106 in 2020. 2. The overall health level of residents showed an upward trend, rising from 1.95 in 2015 to 2.33 in 2017, then remained high and fluctuated slightly. 3. There was a positive correlation between the Theil index and the health level of residents at a significance level of 1% (β = 0.903, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS 1. The Theil index was close to 0, indicating that the equity of government health expenditure in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle was generally good. 2. The health level of residents in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle had improved compared to before. 3. The fairer the government's health expenditure, the higher the residents' health level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidong Yu
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Public Health Security, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yujie Peng
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Public Health Security, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Lanfang Pu
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Public Health Security, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
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Niu L, Song Q, Liu Y, Wang X. Interrupted time series analysis for the impact of integrated medical insurance on direct hospitalization expense of catastrophic illness. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12316. [PMID: 35854019 PMCID: PMC9296576 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15569-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2016, China initiated the merge of the urban resident basic medical insurance scheme and new rural cooperative medical scheme into one unified health insurance scheme: the urban and rural resident basic medical insurance. This study investigates the impact of integrated insurance on the direct hospitalization cost of inpatients with catastrophic illnesses. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted based on a sample of 6174 inpatients with catastrophic illness from January 2014 to December 2018. The factors surveyed included per capita total inpatient expense, out-of-pocket expense, and reimbursement ratio. Univariate analysis indicated that after the implementation of the unified urban and rural medical insurance, the reimbursed expense increased from 9398 to 13,842 Yuan (P < 0.001), average reimbursement ratio increased from 0.57 to 0.59 (P < 0.05). Expenses on both western and traditional medicines increased, although the proportion of medicine expense decreased after the integration. Interrupted time series analysis showed that per capita total inpatient expense and per capita out-of-pocket expense increased but showed a gradually decreasing trend after the integration. After the integration of urban and rural medical insurance, the average reimbursement ratio increased slightly, which had limited effect on the alleviation of patients' financial burden. Furthermore, the integration effect on inpatient expense is offset by increased out-of-pocket medical expense due to suspected supplier-induced demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Niu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qiuhe Song
- Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China.
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Garg S, Bebarta KK, Tripathi N. Role of publicly funded health insurance in financial protection of the elderly from hospitalisation expenditure in India-findings from the longitudinal aging study. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:572. [PMID: 35820859 PMCID: PMC9275032 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03266-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The elderly face a greater burden of illnesses than other age groups and have a more frequent need of healthcare, including in-patient hospitalisations. Catastrophic expenditure on hospitalisation of the elderly poses a significant challenge to India's aim of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). India has implemented a policy of Publicly Funded Health Insurance (PFHI) to provide free inpatient care by empanelling private and public hospitals. The existing studies have examined the performance of PFHI in financial protection of the elderly. METHODS This study utilised the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1, conducted in 2017-18. LASI is a large-scale nationally representative survey collecting data on elderly health including illness burden, healthcare use and out of pocket expenditure (OOPE). It covered a sample 72,250 individuals aged 45 or above. Financial Protection was measured in terms of Catastrophic Health Expenditure (CHE). Multivariate analysis was conducted to find effect of PFHI on OOPE-quantile and logistic models were applied for OOPE and CHE respectively. For robustness, Propensity Score Matching (PSM) model was applied. RESULTS Of the hospitalisations, 35% had taken place in public hospitals. The mean OOPE for a hospitalisation in public sector was Indian Rupees (INR) 8276, whereas it was INR 49,700 in private facilities. Incidence of CHE was several times greater for using private hospitals as compared to public hospitals. Multi-variate analyses showed that enrolment under PFHI was not associated with lower OOPE or CHE. PSM model also confirmed that PFHI-enrolment had no effect on OOPE or CHE. Use of private facilities was a key determinant of OOPE, irrespective of enrolment under PFHI. CONCLUSIONS This was the first study in India to examine the performance of PFHI in the context of catastrophic hospitalisation expenditure faced by the elderly. It found that PFHI was not effective in financial protection of the elderly. The ongoing reliance on a poorly regulated private sector seems to be a key limitation of PFHI policy. Governments need to find more effective ways of protecting the elderly from catastrophic health expenditure if the goal of UHC has to be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Garg
- State Health Resource Centre, Chhattisgarh, Raipur, India.
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Xu Y, Zhou Y, Pramono A, Liu Y, Jia C. A 25-Year Trend of Catastrophic Health Expenditure and Its Inequality in China: Evidence from Longitudinal Data. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2022; 15:969-981. [PMID: 35592442 PMCID: PMC9112452 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s358641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The Chinese government has carried out two major cycles of reform to improve the health system and reduce the disease burden on residents. This study aims to comprehensively track the trends in the occurrence of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and its inequality in the past 25 years, which may help better understand the influence of health system reforms on CHE and its inequality. Methods The study employed the subset of data from China Health and Nutrition Survey conducted from 1991 to 2015. Health payments and net household income were used to calculate CHE. Concentration index and decomposition analysis were used to measure the magnitude of income-related inequality in CHE and decompose it into determinants, respectively. Results The incidence of CHE in China increased from 3.10% in 1993 to 8.90% in 2004 and still maintained at a high level in the following years. The incidence gap of CHE between the richest and poorest became increasingly wider over year. Moreover, the values of adjusted concentration indexes were all negative in each year, decreasing from −0.202 in 1991 to −0.613 in 2015. Income was consistently the largest contributor to the inequality in CHE. The basic medical insurance did not decrease the incidence of CHE and showed the second largest contribution on its inequality before 2004. However, this contribution began to decline after 2006. Conclusion After the New Health Care Reform, despite many measures taken by the Chinese government, there was still a high incidence of CHE and an increasing inequality from 1991 to 2015. The basic medical insurance in China was not enough to protect households from CHE. The use of big data tools and techniques to effectively screen the poor households, and strengthening the social medical aid system would be helpful to decrease the inequality in CHE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjian Xu
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Yongjian Xu, School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’an, 710049, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8618202985437, Email
| | - Yiting Zhou
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Andi Pramono
- Community and Aged Care Services, Hunter New EnglAnd Health, NSW, Australia
| | - Yazhuo Liu
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cong Jia
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
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Soofi M, Arab‐Zozani M, Kazemi‐Karyani A, Karamimatin B, Najafi F, Ameri H. Can Health Insurance Protect Against Catastrophic Health Expenditures in Iran? A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. WORLD MEDICAL & HEALTH POLICY 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wmh3.425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Che X, Li J, Fu W, Fang F. Association between livelihood capital and catastrophic health expenditure among patients with critical illness: a cross-sectional study in rural Shandong, China. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e051234. [PMID: 34716163 PMCID: PMC8559106 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to examine the association between livelihood capital and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). DESIGN Between July and August 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted in critically ill patients. SETTING Shandong, China. PARTICIPANTS 1041 households with critically ill patients from 77 villages. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES We defined expenditure as being catastrophic if a household's out-of-pocket payments were greater than or equal to 40% of their capacity to pay. Using the sustainable livelihoods framework, this study explored the associations between CHE and the various forms of livelihood capital-inclusive of human capital, natural capital, physical capital, financial capital and social capital. χ2 tests, t-tests, Wilcoxon tests and binary logistic regression analysis were performed to examine these associations. RESULTS The incidence of CHE among households with critically ill patients was 76.37% in this study. Better livelihood capital was significantly associated with lower incidence of CHE. After controlling for confounding factors, households with healthier patients (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.96), more real estate ownership (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.67) and better economic status (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.62) were associated with a reduction in the occurrence of CHE. CONCLUSIONS Livelihood capital was significantly associated with CHE in rural families with critically ill patients. This association suggests that, in addition to providing health insurance to the critically ill, more attention should be paid to their ability to create and preserve livelihood capital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Che
- Center for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jiajia Li
- Center for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research,Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wenhao Fu
- Center for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research,Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Feng Fang
- Center for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Jia J, Song L, Li L. WITHDRAWN: Impact of basic medical insurance fund risk on the health risk assessment of urban residents. Work 2021:WOR205352. [PMID: 34308921 DOI: 10.3233/wor-205352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyu Jia
- School of Economics, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Song
- School of Economics, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Li
- Lyceum of the Philippines University, Manila, Philippines
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He X, Liu W, Hu W, Wu X. Coalitional strategies of the pharmaceutical supply chain with an option contract to cope with disruption risks. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LOGISTICS-RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/13675567.2021.1949700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xinhua He
- School of Economics Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenjun Liu
- School of Economics Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenfa Hu
- School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianhua Wu
- School of Economics Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Liu C, Liu ZM, Nicholas S, Wang J. Trends and determinants of catastrophic health expenditure in China 2010-2018: a national panel data analysis. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:526. [PMID: 34051762 PMCID: PMC8164806 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06533-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) are out-of-pocket payments (OOP) that exceed a predefined percentage or threshold of a household's resources, usually 40 %, that can push households into poverty in China. We analyzed the trends in the incidence and intensity, and explored the determinants, of CHE, and proposed policy recommendation to address CHE. METHODS A unique 5-year national urban-rural panel database was constructed from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) surveys. CHE incidence was measured by calculating headcount (percentage of households incurring CHE to the total household sample) and intensity was measured by overshoot (degree by which an average out of pocket health expenditure exceeds the threshold of the total sample). A linear probability model was employed to assess the trend in the net effect of the determinants of CHE incidence and a random effect logit model was used to analyse the role of the characteristics of the household head, the household and household health utilization on CHE incidence. RESULTS CHE determinants vary across time and geographical location. From 2010 to 2018, the total, urban and rural CHE incidence all showed a decreasing tend, falling from 14.7 to 8.7 % for total households, 12.5-6.6 % in urban and 16.8-10.9 % in rural areas. CHE intensity decreased in rural (24.50-20.51 %) and urban (22.31-19.57 %) areas and for all households (23.61-20.15 %). Inpatient services were the most important determinant of the incidence of CHE. For urban households, the random effect logit model identified household head (age, education, self-rated health); household characteristics (members 65 + years, chronic diseases, family size and income status); and healthcare utilization (inpatient and outpatient usage) as determinants of CHE. For rural areas, the same variables were significant with the addition of household head's sex and health insurance. CONCLUSIONS The incidence and intensity of CHE in China displayed a downward trend, but was higher in rural than urban areas. Costs of inpatient service usage should be a key intervention strategy to address CHE. The policy implications include improving the economic level of poor households, reforming health insurance and reinforcing pre-payment hospital insurance methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai Liu
- School of Management, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 301617 Tianjin, China
| | - Zhao-min Liu
- Jining Medical University, 669 Xueyuan Road, Donggang District, 276826 Rizhao City, Shandong Province China
| | - Stephen Nicholas
- Australian National Institute of Management and Commerce, 1 Central Avenue Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh, NSW 2015 Sydney, Australia
- School of Economics and School of Management, Tianjin Normal University, West Bin Shui Avenue, 300074 Tianjin, China
- Research Institute for International Strategies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Baiyun Avenue North, 510420 Guangzhou, China
- Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, University Drive, 2308 Newcastle, NSW Australia
| | - Jian Wang
- Dong Fureng Institute of Economic and Social Development, Wuhan University, No.54 Dongsi Lishi Hutong, Dongcheng District, 100010 Beijing, China
- Center for Health Economics and Management, School of Economics and Management, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Road, Wuchang District, 430072 Wuhan, Hubei Province China
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Liu S, Coyte PC, Fu M, Zhang Q. Measurement and determinants of catastrophic health expenditure among elderly households in China using longitudinal data from the CHARLS. Int J Equity Health 2021; 20:62. [PMID: 33608014 PMCID: PMC7893946 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-020-01336-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) among the Chinese elderly warrants attention. However, the incidence, intensity and determinants of CHE have not been fully investigated. This study explores the incidence, intensity and determinants of CHE among elderly Chinese citizens, i.e., those aged 60 years or older. METHODS Data were obtained from three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS): 2011, 2013 and 2015. The cut-off points used in this study for CHE were 10% of the total expenditures and 40% of non-food expenditure. Under the guidance of Andersen's model of health services utilization, this study used logistic regression analysis to explore the determinants of CHE. RESULTS The incidence of CHE defined as more than 40% of non-food expenditure rose over the study period, 2011-2015, from 20.86% (95% CI: 19.35 to 22.37%) to 31.00% (95% CI: 29.28 to 32.72%). The intensity of CHE also increased. The overshoot (O) based on non-food expenditure rose from 3.12% (95% CI: 2.71 to 3.53%) to 8.75% (95% CI: 8.14 to 9.36%), while the mean positive overshoot (MPO) rose from 14.96% (95% CI: 12.99 to 16.92%) to 28.23% (95% CI: 26.26 to 30.19%). Thus, the problem of CEH was even more serious in 2015 than in 2011. Logistic regression revealed that households were more likely to face CHE if they had a spouse as a household member, reported an inpatient event in the last year, reported an outpatient visit in the last month, were disabled, were members of a poor expenditure quartile, lived in the middle and western zones or resided in an urban area. In contrast, CEH was not significantly affected by respondents being older than 75 years or having a chronic health condition, by household size or by insurance type. CONCLUSIONS Key policy recommendations include the gradual improvement of medical assistance and the expansion of the use of health insurance to reduce household liability for health expenditures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiai Liu
- Center for Social Security Studies of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Peter C Coyte
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mingqi Fu
- Center for Social Security Studies of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qilin Zhang
- Center for Social Security Studies of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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Bernardes GM, Saulo H, Fernandez RN, Lima-Costa MF, Andrade FBD. Catastrophic health expenditure and multimorbidity among older adults in Brazil. Rev Saude Publica 2021; 54:125. [PMID: 33331522 PMCID: PMC7703545 DOI: 10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054002285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the relation between catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and multimorbidity in a national representative sample of the Brazilian population aged 50 year or older. METHODS: This study used data from 8,347 participants of the Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde dos Idosos Brasileiros (ELSI – Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging) conducted in 2015–2016. The dependent variable was CHE, defined by the ratio between the health expenses of the adult aged 50 years or older and the household income. The variable of interest was multimorbidity (two or more chronic diseases) and the variable used for stratification was the wealth score. The main analyses were based on multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of CHE was 17.9% and 7.5%, for expenditures corresponding to 10 and 25% of the household income, respectively. The prevalence of multimorbidity was 63.2%. Multimorbidity showed positive and independent associations with CHE (OR = 1.95, 95%CI 1.67–2.28, and OR = 1.40, 95%CI 1.11–1.76 for expenditures corresponding to 10% and 25%, respectively). Expenditures associated with multimorbidity were higher among those with lower wealth scores. CONCLUSIONS: The results draw attention to the need for an integrated approach of multimorbidity in health services, in order to avoid CHE, particularly among older adults with worse socioeconomic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Marques Bernardes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Helton Saulo
- Universidade de Brasília. Departamento de Estatística. Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Nobre Fernandez
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Departamento de Economia. Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Maria Fernanda Lima-Costa
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Fabíola Bof de Andrade
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
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Macinko J, Cristina Drumond Andrade F, Bof de Andrade F, Lima-Costa MF. Universal Health Coverage: Are Older Adults Being Left Behind? Evidence From Aging Cohorts In Twenty-Three Countries. Health Aff (Millwood) 2020; 39:1951-1960. [DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James Macinko
- James Macinko is a professor in the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California Los Angeles, in Los Angeles, California
| | - Flavia Cristina Drumond Andrade
- Flavia Cristina Drumond Andrade is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in Urbana, Illinois
| | - Fabiola Bof de Andrade
- Fabiola Bof de Andrade is an assistant professor in the Rene Rachou Research Institute at the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maria Fernanda Lima-Costa
- Maria Fernanda Lima-Costa is a professor in the Rene Rachou Research Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, and the Public Health Postgraduate Program at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Thu Thuong NT, Van Den Berg Y, Huy TQ, Tai DA, Anh BNH. Determinants of catastrophic health expenditure in Vietnam. Int J Health Plann Manage 2020; 36:316-333. [PMID: 33022102 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Government of Vietnam has set the goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2025. Health insurance (HI) is being considered a tool to achieve this goal. However, out-of-pocket spending and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) remain high. Research evidence on how to reduce these expenditures to achieve UHC is essential. Therefore, this study examines the determinants of CHE, especially the HI factor. METHOD To identify HI participation status and other factors associated with CHE, we use logistic regression on a dataset from the 2016 Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey. RESULTS The study finds that HI is a protective factor against CHE, although this result is not always statistically significant across different subsamples. Moreover, the household head's age and employment status, household size, share of the elderly above 60 years, income, illness status, healthcare utilisation, availability of hospitals, commune health stations with medical doctors and place of residence all correlate with household CHE. CONCLUSION Although there has been a rise in HI coverage, the financial protection capacity of HI schemes in Vietnam remains inadequate, particularly for households living in rural areas. Further investigations of the causal effect of HI, other health system factors and CHE in rural settings are necessary to reduce the incidence of CHE. Additionally, policies aimed at groups vulnerable to CHE, such as those with higher incidences of severe illness or inpatient admissions, low income, and higher age, should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Thi Thu Thuong
- Faculty of Economics, TNU-University of Economics and Business Administration, Thai Nguyen, Vietnam
| | - Yme Van Den Berg
- Royal Tropical Institute, KIT Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tran Quang Huy
- Department of Academic Affairs, TNU-University of Economics and Business Administration, Thai Nguyen, Vietnam
| | - Do Anh Tai
- Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation, TNU-University of Economics and Business Administration, Thai Nguyen, Vietnam
| | - Bui Nu Hoang Anh
- Faculty of Economics, TNU-University of Economics and Business Administration, Thai Nguyen, Vietnam
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Effect of Critical Illness Insurance on Household Catastrophic Health Expenditure: The Latest Evidence from the National Health Service Survey in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16245086. [PMID: 31847072 PMCID: PMC6950570 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16245086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND China fully implemented the critical illness insurance (CII) program in 2016 to alleviate the economic burden of diseases and reduce catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). With an aging society, it is necessary to analyze the extent of CHE among Chinese households and explore the effect of CII and other associated factors on CHE. METHODS Data were derived from the Sixth National Health Service Survey (NHSS, 2018) in Jiangsu Province. The incidence and intensity of CHE were calculated with a sample of 3660 households in urban and rural areas in Jiangsu Province, China. Logistic regression and multiple linear regression models were used for estimating the effect of CII and related factors on CHE. RESULTS The proportion of households with no one insured by CII was 50.08% (1833). At each given threshold, from 20% to 60%, the incidence and intensity were higher in rural households than in urban ones. CII implementation reduced the incidence of CHE but increased the intensity of CHE. Meanwhile, the number of household members insured by CII did not affect CHE incidence but significantly decreased CHE intensity. Socioeconomic factors, such as marital status, education, employment, registered type of household head, household income and size, chronic disease status, and health service utilization, significantly affected household CHE. CONCLUSIONS Policy effort should further focus on appropriate adjustments, such as dynamization of CII lists, medical cost control, increasing the CII coverage rate, and improving the reimbursement level to achieve the ultimate aim of using CII to protect Chinese households against financial risk caused by illness.
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Impact of Critical Illness Insurance on the Burden of High-Cost Rural Residents in Central China: An Interrupted Time Series Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16193528. [PMID: 31547215 PMCID: PMC6801576 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16193528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Critical illness insurance (CII) in China was introduced to protect high-cost groups from health expenditure shocks for the purpose of mutual aid. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of CII on the burden of high-cost groups in central rural China. Data were extracted from the basic medical insurance (BMI) hospitalization database of Xiantao City from January 2010 to December 2016. A total of 77,757 hospitalization records were included in our analysis. The out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses and reimbursement ratio (RR) were the two main outcome variables. Interrupted time series analysis with a segmented regression approach was adopted. Level and slope changes were reported to reflect short- and long-term effects, respectively. Results indicated that the number of high-cost inpatient visits, the average monthly hospitalization expenses, and OOP expenses per high-cost inpatient visit were increased after CII introduction. By contrast, the RR from BMI and non-reimbursable expenses ratio were decreased. The OOP expenses and RR covered by CII were higher than those uncovered. We estimated a significant level decrease in OOP expenses (p < 0.01) and rise in RR (p < 0.01), whereas the slope decreases of OOP expenses (p = 0.19) and rise of RR (p = 0.11) after the CII were non-significant. We concluded that the short-term effect of the CII policy is significant and contributes to decreasing OOP expenses and raising RR for high-cost groups, whereas the long-term effect is non-significant. These findings can be explained by increasing hospitalization expenses, many non-reimbursable expenses, low coverage for high-cost groups, and the unsustainability of the financing methods.
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