Health Care Centralization: The Health Impacts of Obstetric Unit Closures in the US

Stefanie Fischer (), Heather Royer and Corey White
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Stefanie Fischer: Monash University and IZA

No 2022-06, Monash Economics Working Papers from Monash University, Department of Economics

Abstract: Over the last few decades, health care services in the United States have become more centralized. We study how the loss of hospital-based obstetric units in over 400 rural counties affect maternal and infant health via a difference-in-differences design. We find that closures lead to significant changes in obstetric practices such as inductions and C-sections. In contrast to concerns voiced in the public discourse, the effects on a range of maternal and infant health outcomes are negligible or slightly beneficial. While women travel farther to receive care, closures induce women to receive higher quality care.

Keywords: obstetrics; closures; infant health; maternal health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 I38 J08 J13 J18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Health Care Centralization: The Health Impacts of Obstetric Unit Closures in the US (2023)
Working Paper: Health Care Centralization: The Health Impacts of Obstetric Unit Closures in the US (2022)
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