A. Haviland, N. Sood, Roland D. McDevitt, M. Marquis
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引用次数: 22
Abstract
Abstract Past research has shown that high deductible and consumer-directed health plans (HD/CDHPs) can significantly reduce health care costs. In this paper we investigate how these cost savings are realized. We use panel data from many large employers and difference in difference models to examine how HD/CDHPs affect the number of health care episodes and the cost per episode. Our results show that about two-thirds of the cost savings from HD/CDHP enrollment are from reductions in number of episodes and the remaining one-third of the savings are from reductions in costs per episode. The presence of a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) does not temper the effects of high deductibles on number of episodes. However, enrollees in plans with generous employer contributions to HSAs have more episodes of care than enrollees in plans where employers make smaller account contributions. The reductions in costs per episode and in visits to specialists, inpatient care, and use of non-generic pharmaceuticals suggest that higher deductibles are effective at making patients more cost conscious even after care is initiated.
期刊介绍:
Forum for Health Economics & Policy (FHEP) showcases articles in key substantive areas that lie at the intersection of health economics and health policy. The journal uses an innovative structure of forums to promote discourse on the most pressing and timely subjects in health economics and health policy, such as biomedical research and the economy, and aging and medical care costs. Forums are chosen by the Editorial Board to reflect topics where additional research is needed by economists and where the field is advancing rapidly. The journal is edited by Katherine Baicker, David Cutler and Alan Garber of Harvard University, Jay Bhattacharya of Stanford University, Dana Goldman of the University of Southern California and RAND Corporation, Neeraj Sood of the University of Southern California, Anup Malani and Tomas Philipson of University of Chicago, Pinar Karaca Mandic of the University of Minnesota, and John Romley of the University of Southern California. FHEP is sponsored by the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics at the University of Southern California. A subscription to the journal also includes the proceedings from the National Bureau of Economic Research''s annual Frontiers in Health Policy Research Conference. Topics: Economics, Political economics, Biomedical research and the economy, Aging and medical care costs, Nursing, Cancer studies, Medical treatment, Others related.