The impact of medical insurance policies on the hospitalization services utilization of people with schizophrenia: A case study in Changsha, China.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of two medical insurers' policies on the hospitalization of people with schizophrenia and the economic burden they faced during a period of rapid health services reform in China.

Methodology: A comparative analysis was made of Urban Employee-Basic Medical Insurance (UE-BMI) and Urban Residents-Basic Medical Insurance (UR-BMI) policies on the medical management of schizophrenics, and was compared with hospitalization expenses, insurer reimbursement data and other information collected from the HMO (health maintenance organization) and social insurance agencies on the care of people with schizophrenia in Changsha in 2010. In-depth interviews were also conducted with relevant managers.

Socioeconomic factors influencing antipsychotic prescription for schizophrenia inpatients in China: a cross-sectional study.

Medication is critical in schizophrenia therapy, and prescription patterns have changed considerably over the past 20 years in China. This study attempts to evaluate the prescription patterns of antipsychotics for inpatients with schizophrenia in China and to identify factors influencing these patterns. Claims data of inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2010 were derived from the reimbursement database of Wuhan and Wuxi.