We analyze the effect of a decision support tool designed to help physicians detect and correct medical "missteps". The data comes from a randomized trial of the technology on a population of commercial HMO patients. The key findings are that the new information technology lowers average charges by 6% relative to the control group. This reduction in resource utilization was the result of reduced in-patient charges (and associated professional charges) for the most costly patients. The rate at which identified issues were resolved was generally higher in the study group than in the control group, suggesting the possibility of improvements in care quality along measured dimensions and enhanced diffusion of new protocols based on new clinical evidence.
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Jonathan Skinner & Elliott Fisher & John E. Wennberg, 2001.
"The Efficiency of Medicare,"
NBER Working Papers
8395, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
Other versions:
Jonathan S. Skinner & Elliott S. Fisher & John Wennberg, 2005.
"The Efficiency of Medicare,"
NBER Chapters,
in: Analyses in the Economics of Aging, pages 129-160
National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
[Downloadable!]
Martin Gaynor & James Rebitzer & Lowell Taylor, .
"Incentives in HMOs,"
GSIA Working Papers
2003-E21, Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business.
[Downloadable!]
Other versions:
Martin Gaynor & James B. Rebitzer & Lowell J. Taylor, 2001.
"Incentives in HMOs,"
NBER Working Papers
8522, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
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