Research on the impact of the clinic-pharmacy separation reform in Beijing on the economic burden of insured outpatients / 中华医院管理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the impact of the clinic-pharmacy separation reform in Beijing on the outpatients with medical insurance.Methods:A segmented regression model of interrupted time series(ITS)data was used, to analyze the changes from April 2017 to May 2019 in outpatient visits, average cost per visit, out-of-pocket burden, with a tertiary hospital in Beijing as an example before and after the reform.Results:Segmental regression analysis showed that since the reform, the out-of-pocket burden of outpatients fell by 5.2% in the first month. After the reform, the medicine expenses decreased 0.50 yuan monthly instead of increasing 0.24 yuan before, and the surgery expenses, examination and laboratory fees, and materials expenses have increased from an average monthly increase of 0.14 yuan, 0.64 yuan and 0.36 yuan to 0.15 yuan, 0.70 yuan and 0.17 yuan respectively. Meanwhile, the growth rate of outpatient services slowed down, with an increase number dropping from 855 visits/month to 523 visits/month.Conclusions:The reform had reduced the out-of-pocket expenses of outpatients.