In 2001, Thailand initiated the 30 Baht program, one of the largest, most ambitious health reforms ever undertaken in a developing country. The primary aim of this program was to reduce the long-standing geographical disparities in the provision of public healthcare in Thailand by dramatically increasing funding to provide for care to the poor. The program had two key features. First, the program replaced pre-existing funding arrangements with a universal capitation payment of 1,200 Baht (~$35) to provincial hospitals based on the number of people living in the province. Second, the program also sought to reduce the financial burden of health expenses. Therefore, out-of-pocket expenditures were replaced with a 30 Baht copay ($0.75) so that healthcare provision was primarily financed via the capitation payments to the hospital instead of user fees.