The Impact of Outpatient Pooling Reform on Patients’ Out-of-Pocket Burden: Evidence from China

Objective: This study aims to systematically evaluate the effects of the outpatient pooling reform under the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) in Chongqing, focusing on patient utilization outcomes in a tertiary hospital setting. The primary objective is to assess the extent to which the policy reduces patients’ outpatient financial burden. In addition, through heterogeneity analysis of chronic disease patients and elderly populations, the study further examines the institutional ef