D4 Julkaistu kehittämis- tai tutkimusraportti tai -selvitys
Physician Prices and Competition: Evidence from Acquisitions in the Private Health Care Sector
Tekijät: Mikko Nurminen, Tanja Saxell
Kustantaja: Valtion taloudellinen tutkimuskeskus
Julkaisuvuosi: 2020
Sarjan nimi: VATT Working Papers
Numero sarjassa: 130
eISBN: 978-952-274-252-0
ISSN: 1798-0291
Verkko-osoite: https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/177175
Rinnakkaistallenteen osoite: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/49842325
We consider the effects of mergers and acquisitions for private physicians, who compete for patients on price. To estimate the effects, we use nationwide administrative data on private physicians and the organization of their practice over 10 years in Finland. We show that acquisitions can reduce competition among physicians, leading to higher prices. We estimate the strongest price increase to be in gynecology, in which switching costs and inertia in physician choice may decrease physician competition, at least locally (within a health care unit). The reduction in the number of physicians in a target unit is the key mechanism behind the estimated effect.
Ladattava julkaisu This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |