Financial protection of patients through compensation of providers: The impact of Health Equity Funds in Cambodia

Gabriela Flores, Por Ir, Chean R. Men, O’Donnell, Owen and Eddy Van Doorslaer
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Owen O'Donnell

Journal of Health Economics, 2013, vol. 32, issue 6, 1180-1193

Abstract: Public providers have no financial incentive to respect their legal obligation to exempt the poor from user fees. Health Equity Funds (HEFs) aim to make exemptions effective by giving NGOs responsibility for assessing eligibility and compensating providers for lost revenue. We use the geographic spread of HEFs over time in Cambodia to identify their impact on out-of-pocket (OOP) payments. Among households with some OOP payment, HEFs reduce the amount paid by 35%, on average. The effect is larger for households that are poorer and mainly use public health care. Reimbursement of providers through a government operated scheme also reduces household OOP payments but the effect is not as well targeted on the poor. Both compensation models raise household non-medical consumption but have no impact on health-related debt. HEFs reduce the probability of primarily seeking care in the private sector.

Keywords: Health Financing; User fees; Financial protection; Health care; Cambodia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H42 H51 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:32:y:2013:i:6:p:1180-1193

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2013.09.012

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