The Impact of Enhancing Social Care on Healthcare Use for People With Disability: Evidence From Australia
研究利用澳大利亚国家残疾保险计划（NDIS）的逐步推广，发现增强社会关怀减少了残疾人士对补贴心理健康和联合健康服务的使用，但对全科医生和专家就诊影响不显著。
This study examines the impact of enhanced social care provided through the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) on subsidized healthcare utilisation for people with disability. Using linked administrative datasets from 2011 to 2020, we employed a Difference-in-Difference model and the staggered rollout of the NDIS to assess its effects on healthcare services, focusing on visits to general practitioners (GP), mental healthcare providers, allied health professionals, specialists, and mental health prescriptions. The results show that the NDIS reduced subsidized mental health services and allied health services in the six quarters after enrollment. However, it did not significantly affect visits to GP, specialists, or mental health prescriptions. These effects were most pronounced among individuals aged 0-24 years, males, and those living in major cities. The findings suggest that services available from NDIS may substitute for subsidized healthcare services by providing non-clinical care through social care channels. Further research is needed to investigate the long-term effects and health outcomes of the NDIS.