Can a Multitiered Copayment System Affect People’s Healthcare-seeking Behavior? A Case Study of Wenzhou, China
Abstract Background. Facilitating the primary health care (PHC) system and maintaining people’s reasonable health-seeking behavior are key to establishing a sustainable healthcare system. China has employed a multitiered copayment system to incentivize the public to utilize PHC services through its hierarchical medical care system; however, most people still prefer visiting tertiary care hospitals. Methods. This preliminary study was conducted in 2016 on 1831 individuals from four regions of Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province to explore the effect and influencing factors of the multitiered copayment system that drives their primary healthcare-seeking behavior. We question whether a quality gap in healthcare services influences the minimal effect of the multitiered copayment system, which existing literature has considered as an important factor in the lack of reform in the Chinese healthcare system. We discuss the effect of the policy following the current situation in which there exists a large gap and further consider the hypothetical situation of a reduced gap in the future. Result. The results indicate that the initial effects of the multitiered copayment system was limited. However, they become more pronounced after the equalization of the quality of healthcare services. Moreover, the main determinants in people’s selection of PHC institutions changed from age and needs variables (self-rated health status) to age and enabling variables (distance to a medical care facility). Conclusion. This study confirms that changes in the quality gap in healthcare services influence the multitiered copayment system. Hence, reducing this gap can help to achieve the intended outcome of the tiered healthcare insurance schedule.