Assessing the Effectiveness of Health Care Cost Containment Measures

Nicolas Ziebarth ()

No 5602, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using SOEP panel data and difference-in-differences methods, this study is the first to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of four different health care cost containment measures within an integrated framework. The four measures investigated were introduced in Germany in 1997 to reduce moral hazard and public health expenditures in the market for convalescent care. Doubling the daily copayments was clearly the most effective cost containment measure, resulting in a reduction in demand of about 20 percent. Indirect measures such as allowing employers to cut statutory sick pay or paid vacation during health spa stays did not significantly reduce demand.

Keywords: health expenditures; copayment; SOEP; convalescent care; cost containment measures (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H51 I11 I18 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 35 pages
Date: 2011-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur and nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published - published in: International Journal of Health Care Finance and Economics, 2014, 14(1), 41-67

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Working Paper: Assessing the Effectiveness of Health Care Cost Containment Measures (2011)
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