Utilisation, contents and costs of prenatal care under a rural health insurance (New Co-operative Medical System) in rural China: lessons from implementation

Table 1 Description of hospital charges (RMB) for prenatal care, by hospital level and the NCMS coverage in RC County in 2008

	Prenatal care included in RC			Prenatal care not included in XC		Prenatal care not included in LT
	County	Township	NCMS coverage	County	Township	County	Township
Visit to doctor	Free	Free	No	Charged	Charged	Charged	Charged
Health consultation	Free	Free	No	Free	Free	Free	Free
Laboratory tests ^(a)
*Routine blood (×3)	11	9	6 (55~67%)	15	15	8	6
*Routine urine (×2)	9	9	4 (44~44%)	10	10	6	4
Blood type	8	5	5 (63~100%)	15	15	5	4
*Routine vaginal secretion	3	3	3 (100~100%)	5	2	5	/
*Liver function	40	34	18 (45~53%)	20	20	35	15
*Kidney function	23	12	8 (35~67%)	17	17	45	35
Hepatitis B	4	4	4 (100~100%)	5	5	35	25
Ultrasound	41/88**	41	25 (61/0~61%)	35	40	25	20
Coagulating time	33	13	11 (33~85%)	2	2	30	/
Referral	Charged	Charged	No	Charged	Charged	Charged	Charged
Other treatment	Charged	Charged	No	Charged	Charged	Charged	Charged

Source: Institutes data and policy documents issued by Chongqing Municipality Health Bureau.
County: county level hospital; Township: township level hospital.
NCMS coverage: the NCMS reimburses three routine blood tests, two routine urine tests and one of any other tests. The percentage in parentheses is the reimbursement as a percentage of county and township hospitals charges.
(a) Explanation of laboratory tests:
Routine blood test is to examine red and white blood cells and haemoglobin level.
Routine urine test is to check the levels of sugar and protein.
Routine vaginal secretion test is to check the colour and HP of vaginal secretion and test for bacteria.
Liver function test is to test GPT and GOT.
Kidney function test is to test BUN and Cr.
** The cost of ultrasound test for white-black image (RMB 41) and colour image (RMB 88). The latter is not covered by the NCMS.
/Routine vaginal secretion test and coagulating time test are not available at township hospital in LT County.

ISSN: 1472-6963