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Vertical Alignment Between Hospitals and Physicians as a Bargaining Response to Commercial Insurance Markets

Author

Listed:
  • Ian McCarthy

    (Emory University and NBER)

  • Sean Shenghsiu Huang

    (Georgetown University)

Abstract

The relationship between physicians and hospitals has dramatically changed over the last decade, with the employer–employee model supplanting the traditional model of private physicians with hospital admitting privileges. We examine the motivation for this form of vertical integration by considering physician–hospital alignment as a tool to increase bargaining power with private insurers. We find a positive and significant relationship between private insurance concentration on physician–hospital alignment, which is driven predominantly by for-profit hospitals.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian McCarthy & Sean Shenghsiu Huang, 2018. "Vertical Alignment Between Hospitals and Physicians as a Bargaining Response to Commercial Insurance Markets," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 53(1), pages 7-29, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:revind:v:53:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s11151-017-9609-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11151-017-9609-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. David Dranove & Christopher Ody, 2019. "Employed for Higher Pay? How Medicare Payment Rules Affect Hospital Employment of Physicians," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 11(4), pages 249-271, November.
    2. Perry, Teresa & Bernasek, Alexandra, 2024. "Profits over care? An analysis of the relationship between corporate capitalism in the healthcare industry and cancer mortality in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    3. Kamyar Nasseh & John R. Bowblis & Marko Vujicic & Sean Shenghsiu Huang, 2020. "Consolidation in the dental industry: a closer look at dental payers and providers," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 145-162, June.
    4. Richards, Michael R. & Seward, Jonathan A. & Whaley, Christopher M., 2022. "Treatment consolidation after vertical integration: Evidence from outpatient procedure markets," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    5. Acuna, Jorge A. & Zayas-Castro, Jose L. & Feijoo, Felipe, 2022. "A bilevel Nash-in-Nash model for hospital mergers: A key to affordable care," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

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