ArticleCost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E2022
Impacts of the medical arms race on medical expenses: a public hospital-based study in Shenzhen, China, during 2009-2013.
Article in Cost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Understanding provider behavioral responses to capitation prepayment systems: an integrated mixed-methods approach.Cost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E · 2026Article
- Regional Differences and Dynamic Evolution of High-Quality Medical Resources in China's Private Hospitals from 2017 to 2022.Risk management and healthcare policy · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundHas the medical arms race (MAR) increased healthcare expenditures? Existing literature has yet to draw a consistent conclusion. Hence, this study aims to reexamine the relationship between the MAR and medical expenses by the data from public hospitals in Shenzhen, China, during the period of 2009 to 2013.
methodsThis study's data were collected through panel datasets spanning 2009 to 2013 from the Shenzhen Statistical Yearbook, Shenzhen Health Statistical Yearbook, and annual reports from the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission. The Herfindahl-Hirschman index and hierarchical linear modeling were combined for empirical analysis.
resultsThe MAR's impact on medical examination fees differed during the inpatient and outpatient stages. Further analysis verified that the MAR had the most significant impact on outpatient examination fees. Due to the characteristics of China's medical system, government regulations in the healthcare market may consequently accelerate the MAR among public hospitals. Strict government regulations on the medical system have also promoted increased medical examination costs to some extent. Once medical service prices are under strict administrative control, only drug and medical examination fees are the primary forms of extra income for hospitals. After the proportion of drug fees is further regulated, medical examinations will then become another staple method to generate extra revenue. These have distorted Chinese public hospitals' medical fees, which completely differ from those in other countries.
conclusionThe government should confirm that they have allocated sufficient financial investments for public hospitals; otherwise, the competition among hospitals will transfer the burden to patients, and especially to those who can afford to pay for care. A core task for public hospitals involves providing safer, less expensive, and more reliable medical services.
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