Area Differences in Utilization of Medical Care and Mortality Among U.S. Elderly

60 Pages Posted: 6 Dec 2001 Last revised: 31 Jul 2022

See all articles by Victor R. Fuchs

Victor R. Fuchs

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Mark B. McClellan

Brookings Institution; Council of Economic Advisors; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Jonathan S. Skinner

Dartmouth College - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: December 2001

Abstract

This paper examines 313 U.S. areas for differences in medical care utilization and mortality of whites ages 65-84 in 1990. The variables included in the analysis are education, real income, cigarette sales, obesity, air pollution, percent black, and dummy variables for seven regions and five population size categories from MSAs over 500,000 to not in MSA. Utilization, especially inpatient care, is strongly positively related to mortality. Mortality is positively related to cigarette sales, obesity, air pollution and percent black. Utilization (especially outpatient) is significantly higher in MSAs with populations greater than 500,000. Mortality does not vary with population size, with or without controls. Florida is an outlier for both utilization (very high) and mortality (by far the lowest of any region). The puzzles of Floridian exceptionalism and the positive relation between white mortality and percent black are discussed but not resolved.

Suggested Citation

Fuchs, Victor R. and McClellan, Mark B. and Skinner, Jonathan S., Area Differences in Utilization of Medical Care and Mortality Among U.S. Elderly (December 2001). NBER Working Paper No. w8628, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=293241

Victor R. Fuchs

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

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Mark B. McClellan (Contact Author)

Brookings Institution ( email )

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Council of Economic Advisors ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

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Jonathan S. Skinner

Dartmouth College - Department of Economics ( email )

Hanover, NH 03755
United States
603-646-2535 (Phone)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
603-646-2535 (Phone)

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