A Study of the Impact of Fiscal Decentralization on the Efficiency of Public Health Expenditure

In this present-day global pandemic that has not been completely resolved,health is a major concern among people,and correspondingly,people are demanding higher standards for public health products and services provided by the government.In this paper,we measure the technical efficiency of public health expenditure in each province by using the data envelopment analysis(DEA)model,and examine the impact of decentralization on the efficiency of public health expenditure under the fiscal decentralization system using the panel data from 31 provinces from 2012-2019 in a panel model subject to fixed effects.

Analysis on Inpatient Health Expenditures of Renal Cell Carcinoma in a Grade-A Tertiary Hospital in Beijing

Background： Renal cell carcinoma （RCC） is the most common type of malignant renal tumors with a growing incidence in tile recent years. This study aimed to investigate the influencing factors and variation trend of hospitalization expenditures among RCC patients in a single-centered hospital in Beijing during 5 consecutive years and to find the major cost items and fluctuation tendency of inpatient medical expenditures. Methods： The inlbrmation of medical expenditures among RCC patients in a Grade-A tertiary hospital during the years 2012-2016 was investigated to find the main cost items and changes affecting the medical cost structure. Gray correlation method was adopted in quantitative analysis to analyze the composition of medical expenditures, and the variation of hospitalization expense structure during tile five years was studied by analyzing the degree of structural variation. Results： The cost item constitution of the hospitalization expenditures among RCC patients was relatively stable in the sample hospital during the past five years. To be specific, drug costs accounted for tile largest proportion of medical expenditures each year, with the highest of 37.81% in 2012, and showed a slowly declining tendency in the coming years. The cost item with the highest correlation degree ~as drug costs, with the value of 1.0000; followed by the costs of surgeries, 0.8423. Furthermore, drug costs shared the largest proportion （40.95%） of structural variation, followed by the costs of surgeries （18.35%）. Conclusions： Drug costs are the major influencing factors of the hospitalization expenditures among RCC patients. Thus, reasonable control on excessive drugs as well as the standardization of the diagnosis and treatment behaviors is conducive in reducing medical expenditures as well as easing patients＇ economic burdens. Besides, the positive growth on surgery costs suggests that the labor value of medical staffs has been gradually recognized.

Determinants and Equity Evaluation for Health Expenditure Among Patients with Rare Diseases in China

Background： China has not established social security system for rare diseases. Rare diseases could easily impoverish patients and their families. Little research has studied the equity and accessibility of health services for patients with rare diseases in China. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence health expenditure of rare diseases and evaluate its equity. Methods： Questionnaire survey about living conditions and cost burden of patients with rare diseases was conducted. Individual and family information, health expenditure and reimbursement in 2014 of 982 patients were collected. The impact of medical insurance, individual sociodemographic characteristics, family characteristics, and healthcare need on total and out-of-pocket （OOP） health expenditures was analyzed through the generalized linear model. Equity of health expenditure was evaluated by both concentration index and Lorenz curve. Results： Of all the surveyed patients, 11.41% had no medical insurance and 92.10% spent money to seek medical treatment in 2014. It was suggested female （P = 0.048）, over 50 years of age （P = 0.062）, high-income group （P = 0.021）, hospitalization （P- 0.000）, and reimbursement ratio （RR） （P = 0.000） were positively correlated with total health expenditure. Diseases not needing long-term treatment （P = 0.000） was negatively correlated with total health expenditure. Over 50 years of age （P = 0.065）, high-income group （P = 0.018）, hospitalization （P = 0.000） and having Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance （UEBMI） （P - 0.022） were positively correlated with OOP health expenditure. Patient or the head of the household having received higher education （P = 0.044 and P = 0.08 l） and reimbursement ratio （P = 0.078） were negatively correlated with OOP health expenditure. The equity evaluation found concentration indexes of health expenditure before and after reimbursement were 0.0550 and 0.0539, respectively. Conclusions： OOP health expenditure of patients with UEBMI was significantly more than that of patients without medical insurance. However, for any other medical insurance, there was no difference between OOP health expenditure of the insured patients and patients without insurance. The current reimbursement policies have increased the equity of health expenditure, but are biased toward high-income people.

A decomposition analysis of recent health expenditure growth in China: is population ageing a significant effecting factor?

Since the new round of health system reform,the annual average growth rate of health expenditure in real term in China was 10.5%,which is much faster than that of any other Asian countries.The aim of this study is to analyze major effect-ing factors include population ageing’s contribution to health expenditure growth,as population ageing is accelerating and considered as a major driver of health expenditure growth in China.A component based health expenditure model was developed in this study and five major factors were employed,namely popula-tion size,population structure,disease prevalence rate,excess health price infla-tion(EHPI)and expenditure per prevalent case.Then Das Gupta’s decomposition method was applied to decompose the health expenditure growth into the five factors.Results shows that expenditure per prevalent case was the major factor,which accounted for 59.6%of the health expenditure growth.21.2%of the health expenditure growth was driven by population ageing,followed by EHPI(11.2%),population growth(5.4%)and disease prevalence rate(2.6%).Population age-ing affected circulatory diseases the most,which caused 5.2%of the difference in health expenditure,followed by neoplasms(2.9%),respiratory diseases(2.0%),digestive diseases(1.8%),and endocrine(1.5%).Our work highlights that meas-ures should be taken to reduce risk factors of major non-communicable disease to promote healthy ageing,and it is fundamental to address growth in expenditure per case,especially for circulatory,respiratory,digestive,genitourinary diseases,and endocrine,nutritional and metabolic to contain the rapid health expenditure growth in China.

Panel data study on the appropriate proportion of personal expenses in total health expenditure in China

To get a clear sense of the“appropriate”individual payout,based on the literature reviews and the World Health Organization(WHO)reports,the study analyzes the data from two aspects:191 WHO member states and 76 superior states(the health performance is better than that of China)by using the Panel data model,which was further validated by intention questionnaire.The results show that Chineseappropriate individual payout intervals are respectively around 30%from the WHO angle and the superior state angle in 2020,which have been well proved by the survey of intention.For the realization of the feasible structure of total expenditure on health,we need not only the efforts from government,society and individuals but also the cooperation among hospitals,drug supply security system,health care systems and other health systems.

Social Expenditure on Health Service and Its Macro Estimation

By social expenditure on health service(SEHS)we refer to the sum total of money paid by thewhole society during a certain period of year for the sake of preventing and treating diseases andof protecting and improving the people’s health.It reflects objectively the total level of SEHSduring a certain period;the levels of health service expenditures on the parts of the whole society,enterprises,and individuals;the ratio between SEHS and total social expenditure;and the ratiosof SEHS to gross national product and to national income.The article discussed and

上海市耐多药结核病患者经济负担研究

目的基于上海市近年结核病诊疗费用减免政策,探索耐多药结核病(multidrug resistant tuberculosis,MDR-TB)患者疾病经济负担及其影响因素,为优化MDR-TB诊疗费用减免政策和综合管理模式提供依据。方法收集上海市2017—2019年确诊MDR-TB患者情况和诊疗费用减免情况数据,开展针对疾病经济负担的问卷调查,建立涵盖患者人口和社会经济情况、临床特征、疾病经济负担和诊疗费用减免情况数据库,明确患者疾病经济负担和灾难性卫生支出(catastrophic health expenditure)发生情况。以多元线性回归法分析可能影响患者疾病经济负担的因素,以多因素logistic回归法分析不同比例下灾难性卫生支出发生的影响因素。结果196例纳入研究分析的MDR-TB患者平均年龄为(44±16)岁,男性139例(占70.9%),上海户籍占46.4%,49%的患者为家庭主要劳动力。治疗期间,患者自付诊疗费用中位数为4.0(四分位数区间2.0~6.5)万元。113例患者获得减免诊疗,减免费用中位数为2.6(四分位数区间1.3~4.9)万元。若自付费用占家庭年收入的40%及以上,有47.8%的患者会发生灾难性支出;若不考虑减免政策,有59.8%的患者发生灾难性卫生支出。上海户籍(OR=0.3,95%CI为0.1~1.0)、更低家庭收入水平(P_(trend)=0.002)、医疗保险类型[(农村合作医疗保险/外来人口综合保险(OR=13.3,95%CI为1.0~171.2),无医疗保险(OR=17.5,95%CI为2.7~113.0)]和既往结核病治疗史(OR=3.3,95%CI为1.1~10.0)可能影响灾难性卫生支出的发生。结论上海市MDR-TB患者的自付诊疗费用较高。医疗保障力度较小和家庭经济情况不佳的患者更易发生高额自付费用,导致灾难性卫生支出。上海市MDR-TB诊疗费用减免政策有效降低了患者的经济负担。

2019—2021年潍坊市基层卫生服务机构收支水平和结构

目的以山东省潍坊市为例,分析2019—2021年基层卫生服务机构收支水平和结构的变化趋势及不同特征机构的差别,了解突发重大传染病疫情给基层卫生服务机构带来的挑战,为进一步加强基层卫生体系建设提供建议。方法收集潍坊市2019—2021年基层卫生服务机构数据,分析收入总额和结构、支出总额和结构、收支结余的变化趋势,以及不同特征基层卫生服务机构的收支变化差别。结果2019—2021年,潍坊市基层卫生服务机构的总收入保持增长趋势,2019—2020年医疗业务收入增长率相对较低。基层卫生服务机构支出增长率逐年提高,公共卫生支出增长率明显高于医疗支出增长率。3年间,基层卫生服务机构亏损减少并得到扭转。医疗收入受影响最大的是医疗服务能力较低的机构。财政补助收入变化程度最大的是覆盖人口数多、承担公共卫生工作量较多的机构,并且这类机构亏损最严重。结论医疗业务收入增长受疫情冲击最大,此时,财政补助收入的高增长率对维持机构经济平稳运行起到重要作用,但财政补助投入仍需要长效机制的支持。在高公共卫生支出背景下,须关注公共卫生工作量大的基层卫生服务机构的亏损问题。财政投入在发挥兜底功能的同时,应着重用于提高基层卫生服务机构的医疗业务能力。

Estimation of economic burden throughout course of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion and cervical cancer in China:A nationwide multicenter cross-sectional study

Objective: Cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion(SIL) and cervical cancer are major threats to females' health and life in China, and we aimed to estimate the economic burden associated with their diagnosis and treatment.Methods: A nationwide multicenter, cross-sectional, hospital-based survey was conducted in 26 qualified hospitals across seven administrative regions of China. We investigated females who had been pathologically diagnosed with SIL and cervical cancer, and included five disease courses(“diagnosis”, “initial treatment”,“chemoradiotherapy”, “follow-up” and “recurrence/progression/metastasis”) to estimate the total costs. The median and interquartile range(IQR) of total costs(including direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs), reimbursement rate by medical insurance, and catastrophic health expenditures in every clinical stage were calculated.Results: A total of 3,471 patients in different clinical stages were analyzed, including low-grade SIL(LSIL)(n=549), high-grade SIL(HSIL)(n=803), cervical cancer stage ⅠA(n=226), ⅠB(n=610), ⅡA(n=487), ⅡB(n=282), Ⅲ(n=452) and Ⅳ(n=62). In urban areas, the estimated total costs of LSIL and HSIL were $1,637.7(IQR:$956.4-$2,669.2) and $2,467.1(IQR:$1,579.1-$3,762.3), while in rural areas the costs were $459.0(IQR:$167.7-$1,330.3) and $1,230.5(IQR:$560.6-$2,104.5), respectively. For patients with cervical cancer stage ⅠA,ⅠB, ⅡA, ⅡB, and Ⅲ-Ⅳ, the total costs were $15,034.9(IQR:$11,083.4-$21,632.4), $19,438.6(IQR:$14,060.0-$26,505.9), $22,968.8(IQR:$16,068.8-$34,615.9), $26,936.0(IQR:$18,176.6-$41,386.0) and $27,332.6(IQR:$17,538.7-$44,897.0), respectively. Medical insurance covered 43%-55% of direct medical costs for cervical cancer patients, while the coverage for SIL patients was 19%-43%. For most cervical cancer patients, the expense was catastrophic, and the extent of catastrophic health expenditure was about twice large for rural patients than that for urban patients in each stage.Conclusions: The economic burden of SIL and cervical cancer in China is substantial, with a significant proportion of the costs being avoidable for patients with LSIL. Even for those with medical insurance, catastrophic health expenditures are also a major concern for patients with cervical cancer, particularly for those living in rural areas.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of treatments for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer

Objective:Treatment options for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer(mCRPC)have expanded rapidly in recent years.Given the significant economic burden,we sought perform a cost-effectiveness analysis(CEA)of the contemporary treatment paradigm for mCRPC.Methods:We devised a treatment protocol consisting of sipuleucel-T,enzalutamide,abiraterone,docetaxel,radium-223,and cabazitaxel.We estimated number and length of treatments for each therapy using dosing schedules or progression free survival data from published clinical trials.We estimated treatment cost using billing data and Medicare reimbursement values and performed a CEA.Our analysis assumed US$100,000 per life year saved(LYS)as the threshold societal willingness to pay.Results:Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios(ICER)for strategies incorporating sipuleucel-T that were not eliminated by extended dominance exceeded the societal threshold willingnessto-pay of US$100,000 per LYS,the lowest of which was sipuleucel-T+enzalutamide+abiraterone+docetaxel at US$207,714 per LYS.Enzalutamide+abiraterone+docetaxel exhibited the most favorable ICER among strategies without sipuleucel-T at US$165,460 per LYS.Conclusion:Based on the available survival data and current costs of treatment,all treatment strategies greatly exceed a commonly assumed societal willingness-to-pay threshold of US$100,000 per LYS.Improvements in this regard can only comewith a reduction in pricing,better tailoring of treatment or significant enhancements in survival with clinical use of treatment combinations or sequences.

基于地理探测器的我国省级政府卫生支出空间分异成因探究:气候变化驱动的链路机制

目的 从空间分异视角描绘气候变化背景下我国省级政府卫生支出高风险区的特征图谱,对行为、气候、经济、人口、卫生服务与政策等六维脆弱特征进行分异性识别,为后续政策制定提供理论依据。方法 选取中国家庭追踪调查2016年的数据,分别使用分异及因子探测器与交互作用探测器测度多驱动因子独立、耦合交互后对政府卫生支出解释力的变化,利用风险区探测技术对地区主导高危因素进行探索。结果 省家庭年均医疗总费用、省家庭年均住院费用、省平均锻炼时长、省月吸烟率、人均二氧化碳排放量、人均地区生产总值、老年人(65岁及以上)比例的单因子解释力度相对较大,省会城市年极端最高气温、省城市人口占总人口的比例、女性比例、每千人口卫生机构床位数和省总参保率等因素有较强的交互作用。另外,研究识别了18种风险区主导危险因素组合。结论 在气候变化背景下,我国人均政府卫生支出的分布特征是多因素协同作用的结果。在此过程中,气候因素既可以通过层层机制对人均政府卫生支出产生影响,也可以作为催化因素与其他因素耦合,从而进一步加重政府卫生支出的负担。因此,需将气候因素内化、融合于各领域的政策制定中;在国家指导与多部门协同工作机制下,地方政府应建立起符合地区特点及高危因素分布的政府卫生支出政策,综合考虑政府卫生支出的规模与结构。

Factors that determine catastrophic expenditure for tuberculosis care: a patient survey in China

Background:Tuberculosis(TB)often causes catastrophic economic effects on both the individual suffering the disease and their households.A number of studies have analyzed patient and household expenditure on TB care,but there does not appear to be any that have assessed the incidence,intensity and determinants of catastrophic health expenditure(CHE)relating to TB care in China.That will be the objective of this paper.Methods:The data used for this study were derived from the baseline survey of the China Government–Gates Foundation TB Phase Ⅱ program.Our analysis included 747 TB cases.Catastrophic health expenditure for TB care was estimated using two approaches,with households defined as experiencing CHE if their annual expenditure on TB care:(a)exceeded 10%of total household income;and(b)exceeded 40%of their non-food expenditure(capacity to pay).Chi-square tests were used to identify associated factors and logistic regression analysis to identify the determinants of CHE.Results:The incidence of CHE was 66.8%using the household income measure and 54.7%using non-food expenditure(capacity to pay).An inverse association was observed between CHE rates and household income level.Significant determinants of CHE were:age,household size,employment status,health insurance status,patient income as a percentage of total household income,hospitalization and status as a minimum living security household.Factors including gender,marital status and type of TB case had no significant associations with CHE.Conclusions:Catastrophic health expenditure incidence from TB care is high in China.An integrated policy expanding the free treatment package and ensuring universal coverage,especially the height of UHC for TB patients,is needed.Financial and social protection interventions are essential for identified at-risk groups.

Inequity in catastrophic costs among tuberculosis-affected households in China

Background:There are limited nationally representative studies globally in the post-2015 END tuberculosis(TB)era regarding wealth related inequity in the distribution of catastrophic costs due to TB care.Under the Chinese national tuberculosis programme setting,we aimed to assess extent of equity in distribution of total TB care costs(pre-treatment,treatment and overall)and costs as a proportion of annual household income(AHI),and describe and compare equity in distribution of catastrophic costs(pre-treatment,treatment and overall)across population sub-groups.Methods:Analytical cross-seaional study using data from national TB patient cost survey carried out in 22 counties from six provinces in China in 2017.Drug-susceptible pulmonary TB registered under programme,who had received at least 2 weeks of intensive phase therapy were included.Equity was depiaed using concentration curves and concentration indices were compared using dominance test.Results:Of 1147 patients,the median cost of pre-treatment,treatment and overall care,were USD 283.5,USD 413.1 and USD 965.5,respectively.Richer quintiles incurred significantly higher pre-treatment and treatment costs compared to poorer quintiles.The distribution of costs as a proportion of AHI and catastrophic costs were significantly pro-poor overall as well as during pre-treatment and treatment phase.All the concentration curves for catastrophic costs(due to pre-treatment,treatment and overall care)stratified by region(east,middle and west),area of residence(urban,rural)and type of insurance new rural co-operative medical system[NCMS],non-NCMSalso exhibited a pro-poor pattern with statistically significant(P<0.01)concentration indices.The pro-poor distribution of the catastrophic costs due to TB treatment was significantly more inequitable among rural,compared to urban patients,and NCMS compared to non-NCMS beneficiaries.Conclusions:There is inequity in the distribution of catastrophic costs due to TB care.Universal health coverage,social protection strategies complemented by quality TB care is vital to reduce inequitable distribution of catastrophic costs due to TB care in China.

Determinants of household catastrophic costs for drug sensitive tuberculosis patients in Kenya

Background::Despite free diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis(TB),the costs during treatment impose a significant financial burden on patients and their households.The study sought to identify the determinants for cata-strophic costs among patients with drug-sensitive TB(DSTB)and their households in Kenya.Methods::The data was collected during the 2017 Kenya national patient cost survey from a nationally representative sample(n=1071).Treatment related costs and productivity losses were estimated.Total costs exceeding 20%of household income were defined as catastrophic and used as the outcome.Multivariable Poisson regression analysis was performed to measure the association between selected individual,household and disease characteristics and occurrence of catastrophic costs.A deterministic sensitivity analysis was carried using different thresholds and the significant predictors were explored.Results::The proportion of catastrophic costs among DSTB patients was 27%(n=294).Patients with catastrophic costs had higher median productivity losses,39 h[interquartile range(IQR):20-104],and total median costs of USD 567(IQR:299-1144).The incidence of catastrophic costs had a dose response with household expenditure.The poorest quintile was 6.2 times[95%confidence intervals(CI):4.0-9.7]more likely to incur catastrophic costs compared to the richest.The prevalence of catastrophic costs decreased with increasing household expenditure quintiles(proportion of catastrophic costs:59.7%,32.9%,23.6%,15.9%,and 9.5%)from the lowest quintile(Q1)to the highest quintile(Q5).Other determinants included hospitalization:prevalence ratio(PR)=2.8(95%CI:1.8-4.5)and delayed treatment:PR=1.5(95%CI:1.3-1.7).Protective factors included receiving care at a public health facility:PR=0.8(95%CI:0.6-1.0),and a higher body mass index(BMI):PR=0.97(95%CI:0.96-0.98).Pre TB expenditure,hospitalization and BMI were significant predictors in all sensitivity analysis scenarios.Conclusions::There are significant inequities in the occurrence of catastrophic costs.Social protection interventions in addition to existing medical and public health interventions are important to implement for patients most at risk of incurring catastrophic costs.