The Manifestation Characteristics of Doctors' Behavioral Changes Under the DRG/DIP Payment Reform

The issuance and implementation of China's *Interim Measures for the Management of Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) / Diagnosis-Intervention Packet (DIP)-Based Payment in Healthcare Security* marks a shift from the traditional fee-for-service model to a diagnosis-based point payment system in China. The DIP payment mechanism, which operates on an average-cost basis, effectively controls unreasonable expenses during diagnosis and treatment, enhances the efficiency of healthcare fund utilization, and accelerates the transformation of the medical system from a "disease-centered" to a "health-centered" approach. This reform will inevitably influence physicians' clinical behavior. The stethoscope and scalpel in doctors' hands are now imbued with new meanings, compelling physicians to evolve from purely technical experts into prudent "medico-economic stewards," who must closely align patient needs with healthcare payment requirements. This article examines the changes in physician behavior under the DRG/DIP payment reform from three perspectives: the shift from revenue management to cost management, reflecting a precise reorientation in clinical practice; the deep restructuring of decision-making mechanisms from a technology-driven to a value-driven approach; and the comprehensive expansion of the physician’s role from merely responding to patient demands to proactively managing care needs. It concludes that, leveraged by the payment model reform, the transformation in physician behavior will in turn shape new service models and herald the dawn of a new era in healthcare services.