The Asymmetric Effects of Waiting Time Targets in Health Care

Sofia Dimakou, Ourania Dimakou and Henrique Basso
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Sofia Dimakou: Technological Educational Institute of Athens
Ourania Dimakou: SOAS, University of London

No 1502, BCAM Working Papers from Birkbeck Centre for Applied Macroeconomics

Abstract: Waiting time targets have been a key policy intervention in many OECD countries, aimed at reducing persistent waiting times for healthcare. What is the impact of targets on the distribution of patients' waiting time? Do they affect healthcare outcomes? We address the first question by developing a theoretical model of healthcare provision and empirically assessing the entire distribution of patients' durations at the hospital level. Our model and empirical evidence identify two distinct admission patterns. Hospitals respond by either treating all patients faster or by `substituting' among short and long waiters, indicating an asymmetric effect across patients. In order to address the impact of targets on healthcare outcomes (mortality, prolonged healthcare, delayed discharge at the patient level) we explore the identified heterogeneity of responses across hospitals. We find supportive evidence of a systematic difference in outcomes of patients treated in hospitals that exhibit asymmetric responses to targets.

Keywords: Waiting time targets; Hospitals; Prioritisation; Public Health Provision; Government Policy. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H51 I11 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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