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Competition and health‐care spending: Theory and application to Certificate of Need laws

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  • James Bailey
  • Tom Hamami

Abstract

Hospitals and other health‐care providers in 34 states must obtain a Certificate of Need (CON) from a state board before opening or expanding, leading to reduced competition. We develop a theoretical model of how market concentration affects health‐care spending. Our theoretical model shows that increases in concentration, such as those brought about by CON, can either increase or decrease spending. Our model predicts that CON is more likely to increase spending in markets in which costs are low and patients are sicker. We test our model using spending data from the Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).

Suggested Citation

  • James Bailey & Tom Hamami, 2023. "Competition and health‐care spending: Theory and application to Certificate of Need laws," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 41(1), pages 128-145, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:41:y:2023:i:1:p:128-145
    DOI: 10.1111/coep.12584
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Sloan, Frank A, 1981. "Regulation and the Rising Cost of Hospital Care," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 63(4), pages 479-487, November.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General

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