TY - JOUR
T1 - Primary care competition and quality of care
T2 - Empirical evidence from Medicare
AU - Brunt, Christopher S.
AU - Hendrickson, Joshua R.
AU - Bowblis, John R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PY - 2020/9/1
Y1 - 2020/9/1
N2 - In this paper, we explore the effects of primary care physician (PCP) practice competition on five distinct quality metrics directly tied to screening, follow-up care, and prescribing behavior under Medicare Part B and D. Controlling for physician, practice, and area characteristics as well as zip code fixed effects, we find strong evidence that PCP practices in more concentrated areas provide lower quality of care. More specifically, PCPs in more concentrated areas are less likely to perform screening and follow-up care for high blood pressure, unhealthy bodyweight, and tobacco use. They are also less likely to document current medications. Furthermore, PCPs in more concentrated areas have a higher amount of opioid prescriptions as a fraction of total prescriptions.
AB - In this paper, we explore the effects of primary care physician (PCP) practice competition on five distinct quality metrics directly tied to screening, follow-up care, and prescribing behavior under Medicare Part B and D. Controlling for physician, practice, and area characteristics as well as zip code fixed effects, we find strong evidence that PCP practices in more concentrated areas provide lower quality of care. More specifically, PCPs in more concentrated areas are less likely to perform screening and follow-up care for high blood pressure, unhealthy bodyweight, and tobacco use. They are also less likely to document current medications. Furthermore, PCPs in more concentrated areas have a higher amount of opioid prescriptions as a fraction of total prescriptions.
KW - Medicare part B
KW - primary care competition
KW - quality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087630265&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hec.4119
DO - 10.1002/hec.4119
M3 - Article
C2 - 32632938
AN - SCOPUS:85087630265
SN - 1057-9230
VL - 29
SP - 1048
EP - 1061
JO - Health Economics (United Kingdom)
JF - Health Economics (United Kingdom)
IS - 9
ER -