The Impacts of Physician Payments on Patient Access, Use, and Health
Schnell, Molly 2024 Alexander, Diane
The Impacts of Physician Payments on Patient Access, Use, and Health - American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 2024 - 142-177
We examine how supply-side health insurance generosity affects patient access, use, and health. Exploiting large, exogenous changes in Medicaid reimbursement rates for physicians, we find that increasing payments for new patient office visits reduces reports of providers turning away beneficiaries: closing the gap in payments between Medicaid and private insurers would reduce more than half of disparities in access among adults and would eliminate such disparities among children. We further find that higher physician reimbursement leads to more office visits, better self-reported health, and reduced school absenteeism among the program's beneficiaries.
1945-7782
Actuarial Studies, National Government Expenditures and Health, Analysis of Health Care Markets, Health Insurance, Public and Private, Health: Government Policy
Insurance
Insurance Companies
Occupational Licensing
Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs, Professional Labor Markets
Regulation
The Impacts of Physician Payments on Patient Access, Use, and Health - American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 2024 - 142-177
We examine how supply-side health insurance generosity affects patient access, use, and health. Exploiting large, exogenous changes in Medicaid reimbursement rates for physicians, we find that increasing payments for new patient office visits reduces reports of providers turning away beneficiaries: closing the gap in payments between Medicaid and private insurers would reduce more than half of disparities in access among adults and would eliminate such disparities among children. We further find that higher physician reimbursement leads to more office visits, better self-reported health, and reduced school absenteeism among the program's beneficiaries.
1945-7782
Actuarial Studies, National Government Expenditures and Health, Analysis of Health Care Markets, Health Insurance, Public and Private, Health: Government Policy
Insurance
Insurance Companies
Occupational Licensing
Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs, Professional Labor Markets
Regulation