What is the long term impact of voucher scheme on primary care? Findings from a repeated cross sectional study using propensity score matching.
Carrie Ho Kwan YamEliza L Y WongValerie L H FungSian M GriffithsEng-Kiong YeohPublished in: BMC health services research (2019)
The voucher scheme has encouraged the use of more private care services, particularly acute services rather than disease prevention or management of chronic disease. However, there needs to be caution that the untargeted and open-ended nature of voucher scheme could result in supply-induced demand which would affect long term financial sustainability. The dual utilization of health services in both the public and private sector may also compromise continuity and quality of care. The design of the voucher needs to be more specific, targeting prevention and chronic disease management rather than unspecified care which is mainly acute and episodic in order to maximize service delivery capacity as a whole for equitable access in universal health coverage and to contribute to a sustainable financing system.
Keyphrases
- healthcare
- affordable care act
- primary care
- health insurance
- mental health
- liver failure
- cross sectional
- drug induced
- palliative care
- quality improvement
- respiratory failure
- minimally invasive
- diabetic rats
- public health
- emergency department
- risk assessment
- visible light
- oxidative stress
- endothelial cells
- intensive care unit
- high glucose
- hepatitis b virus
- life cycle