| Popis: |
Background Healthcare Expenditure(HE) has increased substantially in all countries. Since the health system reform and health policy environment differ from each country, it is necessary to analyze the motivations of HE in a specific country. Methods The objective of this study is to analyze the influential factors of Provincial total HE (PTHE) per capita in China by using panel data across 31 provinces(including provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, all called provinces in here) from 2009-2016 at the country level. Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and robust estimators were used to identify the influential factors of PTHE per capita. Results Economic factors explain most of the variation of PTHE per capita. But Out-Of-Pocket Payments(OOP) as a percentage of Total Health Expenditure(THE) is associated with PTHE per capita negatively and Government Health Expenditure(THE) as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product(GDP) have no statistical significance. The results also show that health expenditure in China reacts more to the rate of infectious diseases compared with the Proportion of the Population Aged 65 and Over (POP65), which impacts PTHE per capita positively. As for the number of beds per 10,000 population and mortality, their coefficients are small with no statistical significance. Conclusions In response to these findings, we conclude that the impact of the increasing OOP diminish the PTHE. Furthermore, we do not get a significant correction between health outcomes and health supply with PTHE. Policymakers should consider providing comprehensive health services by an accountable care organization to achieve cost savings while ensuring high-quality care. |
