The association between patient sharing network structure and healthcare costs

Kimberley H Geissler, Benjamin Lubin and Keith Ericson

PLOS ONE, 2020, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Study question: While physician relationships (measured through shared patients) are associated with clinical and utilization outcomes, the extent to which this is driven by local or global network characteristics is not well established. The objective of this research is to examine the association between local and global network statistics with total medical spending and utilization. Data source: Data used are the 2011 Massachusetts All Payer Claims Database. Study design: The association between network statistics and total medical spending and utilization (using standardized prices) is estimated using multivariate regression analysis controlling for patient demographics and health status. Data collection: We limit the sample to continuously enrolled commercially insured patients in Massachusetts in 2011. Principal findings: Mean patient age was 45 years, and 56.3% of patients were female. 73.4% were covered by a health maintenance organization. Average number of visits was 5.43, with average total medical spending of $4,911 and total medical utilization of $4,252. Spending was lower for patients treated by physicians with higher degree (p

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0234990

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234990

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