How does the healthcare voucher system work?
At the core of the program is a performance-based contract with healthcare facilities and vouchers distributed to patients that entitles the bearer to choose care from any contracted health center. Healthcare providers must meet high quality standards to join and then compete to diagnose and treat patients in exchange for the voucher. The vouchers’ cost to the patient is heavily subsidized; in some programs it is free. The provider is reimbursed at a negotiated rate that reflects the cost of service provision and a reasonable profit. Service providers are then only reimbursed after verification of contractually delivered services; in some programs this is referred to as an output-based approach (OBA).
