Effect of Access and Out of Pocket Payment on GP's Visit Utilization: A Data Panel Study among Individuals Covered by Social Security Organization

Assessment of a decade experience about patients cost sharing in the Social Security Organization and availability of general practitioners visits can provide useful insight for health policymakers. In the present study، demands for general practitioners’ visits were estimated using panel data (1998-2009). The study population included 30 million individuals covered by the Social Security Organization who have visits with the general practitioners during 1998-2009. The estimated results of the model indicated that the effect of «proportion of out of pocket specialist''s visit to out of pocket general practitioner''s visit» and the out of pocket paid for drug was reverse and the effects of access was straight in the use of general practitioners’ services. The per capita household expenditures adjusted on family size had no significant effect on the index. The out of pocket changes are important. Regarding different provinces، the organization should consider the availability and price for each service based on the sensitivity of the service and the ability to substitute it with other services and other providers available in the setting. By balancing patients cost sharing، the utilization of health services would be based on real needs of patients.