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Differences in waiting times for elective admissions in NSW public hospitals: A decomposition analysis by non-clinical factors. CHERE Working Paper 2010/7

Author

Listed:
  • Meliyanni Johar

    (CHERE, University of Technology, Sydney)

  • Glenn Jones
  • Michael Keane
  • Elizabeth Savage
  • Olena Stavrunova

Abstract

In the Australian public health system, access to elective surgery is rationed through provision of health care services, it is generally assumed that a patient?s waiting time and locations. In this paper we undertake Oaxaca-Blinder and DiNardo-Fortin-Lemieux decompostition analyses to attribute variation in waiting time to a component explained by clinical need and to differential treatment effects. The latter have an interpretation as discrimination, since treatments vary by non-clinical factors such as socioeconomic status. Using data from public patients in NSW public hospitals in 2004-2005, we find socioeconomically advantaged patients, patients in remote areas, and patients in several Area Health Services have shorter waiting times than their clinical comparable counterparts. Furthermore, the discrimination effect dominates clinical admission if their treatments are delayed. This finding has policy implications for the current operation of waiting lists and order of admission and for the design of equitable quality targets for public hospitals.

Suggested Citation

  • Meliyanni Johar & Glenn Jones & Michael Keane & Elizabeth Savage & Olena Stavrunova, 2010. "Differences in waiting times for elective admissions in NSW public hospitals: A decomposition analysis by non-clinical factors. CHERE Working Paper 2010/7," Working Papers 2010/7, CHERE, University of Technology, Sydney.
    • Handle: RePEc:her:chewps:2010/7
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    File URL: http://www.chere.uts.edu.au/pdf/wp2010_7.pdf
    File Function: First version, June 2010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Johannesson, Magnus & Johansson, Per-Olov & Soderqvist, Tore, 1998. "Time spent on waiting lists for medical care: an insurance approach," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 627-644, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sharma, Anurag & Siciliani, Luigi & Harris, Anthony, 2013. "Waiting times and socioeconomic status: Does sample selection matter?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 659-667.
    2. Meliyanni Johar & Elizabeth Savage & Olena Stavrunova & Glenn Jones & Michael Keane, 2012. "Geographic Differences in Hospital Waiting Times," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 88(281), pages 165-181, June.
    3. Siciliani, L., 2016. "Waiting Time Policies in the Health Sector," Seminar Briefing 001724, Office of Health Economics.
    4. Nikolova, Silviya & Sinko, Arthur & Sutton, Matt, 2015. "Do maximum waiting times guarantees change clinical priorities for elective treatment? Evidence from Scotland," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 72-88.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public hospitals; waiting times; discrimination; decomposition analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • J7 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination
    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health

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