Analyzing Regional Variation in Health Care Utilization Using (Rich) Household Microdata

30 Pages Posted: 18 May 2013

See all articles by Peter Eibich

Peter Eibich

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin)

Nicolas R. Ziebarth

Cornell University

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Abstract

This paper exploits rich SOEP microdata to analyze state-level variation in health care utilization in Germany. Unlike most studies in the field of the Small Area Variation (SAV) literature, our approach allows us to net out a large array of individual-level and state-level factors that may contribute to the geographic variation in health care utilization. The raw data suggest that state-level hospitalization rates vary from 65 percent to 165 percent of the national mean. Ambulatory doctor visits range from 90 percent to 120 percent of the national mean. Interestingly, in the former GDR states doctor visit rates are significantly below the national mean, while hospitalization rates lie above the national mean. The significant state-level differences vanish once we control for individual-level socio-economic characteristics, the respondents' health status, their health behavior as well as supply-side state-level factors.

Keywords: small area variation, health care utilization, SOEP

JEL Classification: I12, I14, I18

Suggested Citation

Eibich, Peter and Ziebarth, Nicolas R., Analyzing Regional Variation in Health Care Utilization Using (Rich) Household Microdata. IZA Discussion Paper No. 7409, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2266836 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2266836

Peter Eibich (Contact Author)

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany

Nicolas R. Ziebarth

Cornell University ( email )

Ithaca, NY
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.human.cornell.edu/bio.cfm?netid=nrz2

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