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Returns to Local-Area Health Care Spending: Using Health Shocks to Patients Far From Home

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  • Joseph J. Doyle, Jr.

Abstract

Health care spending varies widely across markets, yet there is little evidence that higher spending translates into better health outcomes, possibly due to endogeneity bias. The main innovation in this paper compares outcomes of patients who are exposed to different health care systems that were not designed for them: patients who are far from home when a health emergency strikes. The universe of emergencies in Florida from 1996-2003 is considered, and visitors who become ill in high-spending areas have significantly lower mortality rates compared to similar visitors in lower-spending areas. The results are robust across different types of patients and within groups of destinations that appear to be close demand substitutes.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph J. Doyle, Jr., 2007. "Returns to Local-Area Health Care Spending: Using Health Shocks to Patients Far From Home," NBER Working Papers 13301, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:13301
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Joseph J. Doyle, 2011. "Returns to Local-Area Health Care Spending: Evidence from Health Shocks to Patients Far from Home," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 3(3), pages 221-243, July.
    2. Andrew J. Rettenmaier & Zijun Wang, 2012. "Regional variations in medical spending and utilization: a longitudinal analysis of US Medicare population," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(2), pages 67-82, February.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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