the impact of government free health insurance for children in vietnam ha nguyen, ph.d. abt...
TRANSCRIPT
The impact of government free health insurance for children in Vietnam
Ha Nguyen, Ph.D.Abt Associates Inc.
Montreux
November 16, 2010
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Background
Widespread adoption and expansion of social health insurance in many developing countries.
Growing body of literature evaluating impact of health insurance on service utilization, out-of-pocket expenditure, and other outcomes.
Limited evidence on insurance’s impact specifically among small children.
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Rationale for assessing insurance’s effects among children
Children are among vulnerable groups. Investing in children is likely to bring about positive
externality and long term impact. want to see tax payer’s money benefit children
Children may have different (cross) price elasticity and preferences.
want to design programs appropriately to respond to children’s need and preferences
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Objectives
To evaluate the Vietnamese government’s Policy on Free Care for Children under 6 on:
1. Health service utilization
2. OOP expenditure
3. Intermediate health status
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The Free Care for Children under 6 Policy (FCCU6)
Adopted according to 2004 Law on Protection, Care, and Education of Children, became effective in 2005.
Covers all services in the public sector (generic drugs approved by Ministry of Health).
Requires adherence to official referral system for full reimbursement.
Covered 11% of population (22% of the insured) and accounted for 9% of government budget for health in 2005.
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The impact evaluation study
Difference-in-differences design using Vietnam Living Standard Surveys pseudo panel:
2004: 2990 observations 2006: 2505 observations
Outcomes: In- and out-patient care OOP expenditure Catastrophic OOP payment
(>20% non-food consumption) Number of sick days
Covariates: Child characteristics Household SES
Exclude children from poor households (already eligible for a different program)
Age 0 – 5 6 – 7
2004 Treated Control
2006 Treated Control
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Sample description: Insurance coverage by type and age group
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 - 3 4 - 5 6 - 7 0 - 3 4 - 5 6 - 7
age group-year 2004 2006
%
Student Poor Under 6
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Results 1. FCCU6’s effect on service utilization among age group 0 - 3
Service utilization Baseline mean FCCU6 effect
Number of outpatient contact in public sector
Commune clinic 0.598 -0.050
Secondary hospital 0.125 0.105**
Tertiary hospital 0.277 -0.082
Number of inpatient admission in public sector
Commune clinic 0.019 -0.006
Secondary hospital 0.040 0.020***
Tertiary hospital 0.042 0.003
Number of outpatient contact in private sector
Clinic 0.843 0.137
** p<0.05; *** p<0.01
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Results 2. FCCU6’s effect on service utilization among age group 4 - 5
Service utilizationBaseline mean FCCU6 effect
Number of outpatient contact in public sector
Commune clinic 0.323 0.025
Secondary hospital 0.086 0.139
Tertiary hospital 0.204 -0.188*
Number of inpatient admission in public sector
Commune clinic 0.007 0.003
Secondary hospital 0.015 0.032***
Tertiary hospital 0.034 -0.032**
Number of outpatient contact in private sector
Clinic 0.623 0.240
* p<0.10; ** p<0.05; *** p<0.01
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Results 3. FCCU6’s effect on OOP expenditure and number of sick days
Baseline mean FCCU6 effect
Age group 0 - 3
Amount of OOP expenditure (US$) 8.45 -1.23
Catastrophic OOP expenditure (%) 3.5 - 0.009
Number of sick days 2.94 0.015
Age group 4 - 5
Amount of OOP expenditure (US$) 5.74 -4.13**
Catastrophic OOP expenditure (%) 2.7 -0.017***
Number of sick days 3.06 -0.81*
*p<0.10; ** p<0.05; *** p<0.01
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Main conclusions
FCCU6 has not resulted in consistent increase in service utilization of all public services.
Rather, there was a substitution between different levels of public providers (from commune clinic to hospital; from tertiary to secondary hospital).
No significant effect on the use of private services.
Reduction in OOP payment, incidence of high payment, and number of sick days were experienced among older children (ages 4-5).
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Notes on study findings
Small number of observation limits the ability to detect statistically significant results.
Impact is measured one year into implementation, so may not have been fully materialized.
Impact is measured among children from households not eligible for Insurance for the Poor program, i.e., not the most disadvantaged population.
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Implications
Insurance may not necessarily lead to increase in overall volume of service, but to better quality service.
Insurance can improve efficiency by strengthening referral system.
Insurance can bring about positive externality by saving days parents take care of sick children.
Government insurance program should be responsive to children’s preference for private services.
Improving quality of care in the commune clinics will help reducing time and monetary cost of travel for care givers.
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Thank you