Regional variation in healthcare utilization and mortality

Arbeitspapier

Geographic variation in healthcare utilization has raised concerns of possible inefficiencies in healthcare supply, as differences are often not reflected in health outcomes. Using comprehensive Norwegian microdata, we exploit cross-region migration to analyze regional variation in healthcare utilization. Our results indicate that hospital region factors account for half of the total variation, while the rest reflect variation in patient demand. We find no statistically significant association between the estimated hospital region effects and overall mortality rates. However, we document a negative association with relative utilization-intensive causes of death such as cancer, suggesting high-supply regions may achieve modestly improved health outcomes.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Discussion Papers ; No. 890

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; National Government Expenditures and Health ; Analysis of Health Care Markets ; Health Insurance, Public and Private
• Subject: healthcare supply ; healthcare demand ; healthcare spending ; regional variation ; health outcomes

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Godøy, Anna ; Huitfeldt, Ingrid
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Statistics Norway, Research Department
• (where): Oslo
• (when): 2018

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/192872
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET