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August 10, 2026BMC Public HealthOpen Access

Does integrated care reshape service utilization patterns? Evidence from China’s compact county-level medical community on utilization, cost, and equity

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Authors

QZQizhong ZhengJiangsu UniversityLZLulin ZhouJiangsu University

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Implication

Randomized trial evaluates service utilization and equity in China's compact county-level medical community, suggesting limited improvements.

Key Points

  • This study aims to evaluate the effects of China's compact county-level medical community on healthcare service utilization patterns and equity.
  • Used propensity score matching—difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) approach.
  • Analyzed urban and rural medical insurance data from Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province (2020–2024).
  • Examined changes in medical service utilization, cost structure, and equity.
  • Primary-level inpatient volumes increased in the first year, while outpatient volumes decreased.
  • Average outpatient costs decreased, but inpatient cost control was unstable.
  • Vulnerable groups showed no significant improvement in service utilization compared to other groups.

Cite This Study

Zheng et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a797d299c20a9bbd3184464https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28882-0
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