China's health system and its reform: A review of recent studies

Health Economics

Volumn 18, Issue SUPPL. 2, 2009, Pages

  Wagstaff, Adam ^a   Yip, Winnie ^b   Lindelow, Magnus ^a   Hsiao, William C ^c  

^a WORLD BANK   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD   (United Kingdom)

^c HARVARD UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

China; Health insurance; Health reform; Health systems; Intergovernmental fiscal relations; Provider payments

Indexed keywords

CHINA; EMPIRICAL RESEARCH; FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT; GOVERNMENT REGULATION; HEALTH CARE COST; HEALTH CARE DELIVERY; HEALTH CARE DISPARITY; HEALTH CARE POLICY; HEALTH CARE QUALITY; HEALTH CARE SYSTEM; HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION; HEALTH ECONOMICS; HEALTH INSURANCE; OUTPATIENT CARE; PRIORITY JOURNAL; PUBLIC HEALTH; REIMBURSEMENT; REVIEW;

CHINA; DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE; FINANCING, GOVERNMENT; FINANCING, PERSONAL; HEALTH BEHAVIOR; HEALTH CARE REFORM; HEALTH POLICY; HEALTH SERVICES; HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES; HUMANS; INSURANCE, HEALTH; NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMS; QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE;

EID: 70349202707     PISSN: 10579230     EISSN: 10991050     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/hec.1518     Document Type: Review

References (73)

1. Akin JS, Dow WH, Lance PM. 2004. Did the distribution of health insurance in China continue to grow less equitable in the nineties? Results from a longitudinal survey. Social Science & Medicine 58(2): 293-304.
2. Banister J, Hill K. 2004. Mortality in China 1964-2000. Population Studies (Camb) 58(1): 55-75.
3. Blumenthal D, Hsiao W. 2005. Privatization and its discontents - The evolving Chinese health care system. New England Journal of Medicine 353(11): 1165-1170.
4. Bogg L, Dong H, Wang K, Cai W, Vinod D. 1996. The cost of coverage: rural health insurance in China. Health Policy Plan 11(3): 238-252.
5. Cai F, Park A, Zhao Y. 2008. The Chinese labor market in the reform era. In China's Great Economic Transformation, Brandt L, Rawski TG (eds). Cambridge University Press: New York; 167-214.
6. Cai W, Zhuang Y, Marks JS, Chen CHC, Morris L, Harris JR. 1998. Increased cesarean section rates and emerging patterns of health insurance in Shanghai, China. American Journal of Public Health 88(5): 777-780.
7. Carrin G, Ron A, Yang H, Wang H, Zhang T, Zhaing L, Zhang S, Ye Y, Chen J, Jiang Q, Zhang Z, Yu J, Li X. 1999. The Reform of the Rural Cooperative Medical System in the Peoples Republic of China: interim experience in 14 pilot counties. Social Science & Medicine 48(7): 961-972.
8. Chen S, Ravallion M. 2008. The Developing World is Poorer than We Thought, But No Less Successful in the Fight Against Poverty. The World Bank: Washington, DC. Policy Research Working Paper 4703.
9. Cheng T-M. 2008. China's latest health reforms: a conversation with Chinese health minister Chen Zhu. Interview by Tsung-Mei Cheng. Health Affairs (Millwood) 27(4): 1103-1110.
10. Cretin S, Duan N, Williams AP, Gu X, Shi Y. 1990. Modeling the effect of insurance on health expenditures in the People's Republic of China. Health Services Research 25(4): 667-685.
11. Dummer TJ, Cook IG. 2008. Health in China and India: a cross-country comparison in a context of rapid globalisation. Social Science & Medicine 67(4): 590-605.
12. Eggleston K, Ling Li, Meng Q, Lindelow M, Wagstaff A. 2008. Health service delivery in China: a literature review. Health Economics 17(2): 149-165.
13. Gao J, Raven JH, Tang S. 2007. Hospitalisation among the elderly in urban China. Health Policy 84(2-3): 210-219.
14. Gao J, Tang S, Tolhurst R, Rao K. 2001. Changing access to health services in urban China: implications for equity. Health Policy and Planning 16(3): 302-312.
15. Henderson GE, Akin J, Hutchinson PM, Jin SG, Wang JM, Dietrich J, Mao LM. 1998. Trends in health services utilization in eight provinces in China, 1989-1993. Social Science & Medicine 47(12): 1957-1971.
16. Hsiao WC. 1984. Transformation of health in China. New England Journal of Medicine 310: 932-936.
17. Hsiao WC. 1995. The Chinese health care system: lessons for other nations. Social Science & Medicine 41(8): 1047-1055.
18. Hu T, Ong M, Lin Z, Li E. 1999. The effects of economic reform on health insurance and the financial burden for urban workers in China. Health Economics 8(4): 309-321.
19. Koblinsky MA. 2003. Reducing Maternal Mortality: Learning from Bolivia, China, Egypt, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, and Zimbabwe. World Bank: Washington, DC.
20. Leung GM, Wagstaff A, Lindelow M, Lu JR. 2007. The health systems of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In Encyclopedia of Public Health, Heggenhougen K (ed.). Academic Press, North-Holland: Amsterdam.
21. Lin W, Liu GG, Chen G. 2009. The Urban Resident Basic Medical Iinsurance: a landmark reform towards universal coverage in China. Health Economics 18(S2): S83-S96.
22. Liu GG, Zhao Z. 2006. Urban employee health insurance reform and the impact on out-of-pocket payment in China. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management 21(3): 211-228.
23. Liu J, Xu L, Cao X, Wang X, Sun H, Tang C, Yang Z, Song X, Lv M. 2008a. Analysis of satisfaction about new cooperative medical scheme and its influencing factors in Weihai, China. Health Policy 86(2-3): 239-244.
24. Liu X, Hsiao WC. 1995. The cost escalation of social health insurance plans in China: its implication for public policy. Social Science & Medicine 41(8): 1095-1101.
25. Liu X, Mills A. 1999. Evaluating payment mechanisms: how can we measure unnecessary care? Health Policy and Planning 14(4): 409-413.
26. Liu X, Mills A. 2003. The influence of bonus payments to doctors on hospital revenue: results of a quasi-experimental study. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy 22: 91-98.
27. Liu Y. 2002. Reforming China's urban health insurance system. Health Policy 60(2): 133-150.
28. Liu Y, Hsiao W, Eggleston K. 1999. Equity in health and health care: the Chinese experience. Social Science & Medicine 49(10): 1349-1356.
29. Liu Y, Hu S, Fu W, Hsiao W. 1996. Is community financing necessary and feasible for rural China? Health Policy 38(3): 155-171.
30. Liu Y, Rao K, Hsiao WC. 2003. Medical expenditure and rural impoverishment in China. Journal of Health Population & Nutrition 21(3): 216-222.
31. Liu YL. 2004. Development of the rural health insurance system in China. Health Policy and Planning 19(3): 159-165.
32. Liu Y, Rao K, Wu J, Gakidou E. 2008b. China's health system performance. Lancet 372(9653): 1914-1923.
33. Ma J, Lu M, Quan H. 2008. From a national, centrally planned health system to a system based on the market: lessons from China. Health Affairs (Millwood) 27(4): 937-948.
34. Martinez-Vazquez J, Qiao B, Wang S. 2008. Expenditure assignments in China: challenges and policy options. In Public Finance in China: Reform and Growth for a Harmonious Society, Zou H-F, Lou J (eds). World Bank: Washington, DC; 77-94.
35. Meng QY, Cheng G, Silver L, Sun XJ, Rehnberg C, Tomson G. 2005. The impact of China's retail drug price control policy on hospital expenditures: a case study in two Shandong hospitals. Health Policy and Planning 20(3): 185-196.
36. Meng QY, Rehnberg C, Zhuang N, Bian Y, Tomson G, Tang SL. 2004. The impact of urban health insurance reform on hospital charges: a case study from two cities in China. Health Policy 68(2): 197-209.
37. O'Donnell O, van Doorslaer E, Rannan-Eliya RP, Somanathan A, Adhikari SR, Harbianto D, Garg CG, Hanvoravongchai P, Huq MN, Karan A, Leung GM, Ng C-W, Pande BR, Tin K, Trisnantoro L, Vasavid C, Zhang Y, Zhao Y. 2007. The incidence of public spending on healthcare: comparative evidence from Asia. World Bank Economic Review 211: 93-123.
38. Pan X, Dib HH, Zhu M, Zhang Y, Fan Y. 2008. Absence of appropriate hospitalization cost control for patients with medical insurance: a comparative analysis study. Health Economics. DOI: 10.1002/ hec.1421.
39. Park A, Rozelle S, Wong C, Ren C. 1996. Distributional consequences of reforming local public finance in China. The China Quarterly (147): 751-778.
40. Shah A, Shen C. 2008. Fine-tuning the intergovernmental transfer system to create a harmonious society and a level playing field for regional development. In Public Finance in China: Reform and Growth for a Harmonious Society, Lou J, Wang S (eds). World Bank: Washington, DC; 129-154.
41. Sun X, Jackson S, Carmichael G, Sleigh AC. 2009. Catastrophic medical payment and financial protection in rural China: evidence from the New Cooperative Medical Scheme in Shandong Province. Health Economics 18(1): 103-119.
42. Tang L. 2000. Progress in malaria control in China. Chinese Medical Journal (Engl) 113(1): 89-92.
43. Ter-Minassian T, Fedelino A. 2008. Fiscal policy and reforms: toward realizing a harmonious society. In Public Finance in China: Reform and Growth for a Harmonious Society, Lou J, Wang S. World Bank: Washington, DC; 53-74.
44. Van Doorslaer E, O'Donnell O, Rannan-Eliya RP, Somanathan A, Adhikari SR, Garg CC, Harbianto D, Herrin AN, Huq MN, Ibragimova S, Karan A, Lee T-j, Leung GM, Lu J-fR, Ng CW, Pande BR, Racelis R, Tao S, Tin K, Tisayaticom K, Trisnantoro L, Visasvid C, Zhao Y. 2007. Catastrophic payments for health care in Asia. Health Economics 16: 1159-1184.
45. Van Doorslaer E, O'Donnell O, Rannan-Eliya RP, Somanathan A, Adhikari SR, Garg CC, Harbianto D, Herrin AN, Huq MN, Ibragimova S, Karan A, Ng CW, Pande BR, Racelis R, Tao S, Tin K, Tisayaticom K, Trisnantoro L, Vasavid C, Zhao Y. 2006. Effect of payments for health care on poverty estimates in 11 countries in Asia: an analysis of household survey data. Lancet 368(9544): 1357-1364.
46. Wagstaff A, Lindelow M. 2008. Can insurance increase financial risk? The curious case of health insurance in China. Journal of Health Economics 27(4): 990-1005.
47. Wagstaff A, Lindelow M, Gao J, Xu L, Qian J. 2007. Extending Health Insurance to the Rural Population: An Impact Evaluation of China's New Cooperative Medical Scheme. World Bank; Washington, DC. Impact Evaluation Series 12. Policy Research Working Paper WPS 4150.
48. Wagstaff A, Lindelow M, Jun G, Ling X, Juncheng Q. 2009a. Extending health insurance to the rural population: an impact evaluation of China's new cooperative medical scheme. Journal of Health Economics 28(1): 1-19.
49. Wagstaff A, Lindelow M, Wang S, Zhang S. 2009b. Reforming China's Rural Health System. World Bank: Washington, DC.
50. Wagstaff A, Yu SC. 2007. Do health sector reforms have their intended impacts? The World Bank's Health VIII project in Gansu province, China. Journal of Health Economics 26(3): 505-535.
51. Wang H, Gu D, Dupre ME. 2008. Factors associated with enrollment, satisfaction, and sustainability of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme program in six study areas in rural Beijing. Health Policy 85(1): 32-44.
52. Wang H, Huang G. 2000. Assessing the reform models of China's urban health insurance system. Chinese Health Policy 9-11.
53. Wang H, Yip W, Zhang L, Hsiao W. 2009. The impact of Rural Mutual Health Care on health status: evaluation of a social experiment in rural China. Health Economics 18(S2): S65-S82.
54. Wang H, Zhang L, Yip W, Hsiao W. 2006. Adverse selection in a voluntary Rural Mutual Health Care health insurance scheme in China. Social Science & Medicine 63(5): 1236-1245.
55. West LA, Wong CPW. 1995. Fiscal decentralization and growing regional disparities in rural China: some evidence in the provision of social services. Oxford Review of Economic Policy 11(4): 70-84.
56. Wong CCP, Bird RM. 2008. China's fiscal system: a work in progress. In China's Great Economic Transformation, Loren B, Thomas GR (ed.). Cambridge University Press: Cambridge; 429-466.
57. Xueshan F, Shenglan T, Bloom G, Segall M, Xingyuan G. 1995. Cooperative medical schemes in contemporary rural China. Social Science & Medicine 41(8): 1111-1118.
58. Yi Y, Maynard A, Liu G, Xiong X, Lin F. 2005. Equity in health care financing: evaluation of the current urban health insurance reform in China. Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy 10(4): 506-527.
59. Yip W. 2009. Disparities in health care and health status: the rural-urban gap and beyond. In One Country, Two Societies: Rural-Urban Inequality in Contemporary China, Whyte M (ed.). Harvard University Press: Cambridge, MA.
60. Yip W, Eggleston K. 2001. Provider payment reform in China: the case of hospital reimbursement in Hainan Province. Health Economics 10(4): 325-339.
61. Yip W, Eggleston K. 2004. Addressing government and market failures with payment incentives: Hospital reimbursement reform in Hainan, China. Social Science & Medicine 58: 267-277.
62. Yip W, Hsiao W. 1997. Medical savings accounts: lessons from China. Health Affairs 16(6): 244-251.
63. Yip W, Hsiao WC. 2008. The Chinese health system at a crossroads. Health Affairs (Millwood) 27(2): 460-468.
64. Yip W, Hsiao WC. 2009. Non-evidence-based policy: how effective is China's new cooperative medical scheme in reducing medical impoverishment? Social Science & Medicine 68(2): 201-209.
65. Yip W, Wang H, Hsiao W. 2009. The impact of rural mutual health care on access to care: evaluation of a social experiment in rural China. Mimeo.
66. You X, Kobayashi Y. 2009. The new cooperative medical scheme in China. Health Policy 91: 1-9.
67. Zhan S, Wang L, Yin A, Blas E. 2004. Revenue-driven TB control - three cases in China. International Journal of Health Planning and Management 19: 63-78.
68. Zhang J. 2007. A DID analysis of the impact of health insurance reform in the city of Hangzhou. Health Economics 16(12): 1389-1402.
69. Zhang L, Wang H. 2008. Dynamic process of adverse selection: evidence from a subsidized community-based health insurance in rural China. Social Science Medicine 67(7): 1173-1182.
70. Zhang T, Tang S, Jun G, Whitehead M. 2007. Persistent problems of access to appropriate, affordable TB services in rural China: experiences of different socio-economic groups. BMC Public Health 7: 19.
71. Zhang X, Kanbur R. 2005. Spatial inequality in education and health care in China. China Economic Review 16: 189-204.
72. Zheng X, Hiller S. 1995. The reforms of the Chinese health care system: county level changes: the Jiangxi study. Social Science & Medicine 41(8): 1057-1064.
73. Zhou B, Yang L, Sun Q, Gu H, Wang B. 2008. Social health insurance and drug spending among cancer inpatients in China. Health Affairs (Millwood) 27(4): 1020-1027.