Institute of New Development, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangzhou 510320, China.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 27;19(19):12275. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912275.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of long-term care insurance (LTCI) on medical utilization and expenditures in Jingmen, a pilot city of China. The propensity score matching-difference in difference (PSM-DID) approach was employed to examine the expenses and frequency of inpatient and outpatient services before and after the implementation of the LTCI based on the 2015-2018 panel data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The results showed that the annual expenditure and frequency of the inpatient services of Jingmen residents were reduced by 1923 Yuan (287.0 USD) and 0.24 times, respectively. The impact of the LTCI varied between urban and rural areas. The annual expenditure and frequency of inpatient services in rural areas were reduced by 1600 Yuan (238.8 USD) and 0.30 times, which were lower than those (3400 Yuan (507.5 USD) and 0.20 times) in urban areas. The monthly outpatient expenses and frequency in rural areas were reduced by 300 Yuan (44.8 USD) and 0.14 times, but increased by 555 Yuan (82.8 USD) and 0.07 times in urban area. The findings indicated that the implementation of the LTCI can reduce the medical utilization and expenses, and it had a greater effect in rural areas than in urban areas. It is suggested to promote the LTCI nationwide, and more policy preference should be given to the development of the LTCI in rural areas.
本研究旨在评估长期护理保险(LTCI)对中国试点城市荆门的医疗利用和支出的影响。利用中国健康与养老追踪调查(CHARLS)2015-2018 年的面板数据,采用倾向评分匹配-差分法(PSM-DID),考察了 LTCI 实施前后住院和门诊服务的费用和频率。结果表明,荆门居民的年住院费用和住院服务频率分别减少了 1923 元(287.0 美元)和 0.24 次。LTCI 的影响在城乡之间存在差异。农村地区的年住院费用和住院服务频率分别减少了 1600 元(238.8 美元)和 0.30 次,低于城市地区(3400 元(507.5 美元)和 0.20 次)。农村地区的月门诊费用和频率分别减少了 300 元(44.8 美元)和 0.14 次,而城市地区的月门诊费用和频率分别增加了 555 元(82.8 美元)和 0.07 次。研究结果表明,LTCI 的实施可以降低医疗利用和支出,在农村地区的效果大于城市地区。建议在全国范围内推广 LTCI,并给予农村地区 LTCI 发展更多的政策支持。