Alternative Title

Disruption in Primary care and Patient Outcomes: Evidence from Physician Retirement

Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

submittedVersion

Publication Date

3-2022

Abstract

The physician retirement rate in the United States is increasing as the population ages. I use an event study model allowing for anticipation to evaluate the effects of primary care physician (PCP) retirement on elderly adults’ health care utilization and quality of care. I find that, despite moderate anticipatory effects, PCP retirement results in an approximately $572 increase in total Medicare costs per beneficiary in the first 1.5 years post-retirement and an over 10% increase in detection of new chronic conditions. Heterogeneity analyses show that the increase in costs is disproportionately driven by the retirement of solo practitioners; Medicare beneficiaries with a retired PCP practicing in states with mandatory physician departure notice experience less disruption in care; and beneficiaries living in primary care health professional shortage areas experience greater disruption in care.

Keywords

Medicare, Physician retirement, Health care utilization, Quality of care, Anticipatory effect

Discipline

Health Economics

Research Areas

Applied Microeconomics

Publication

Journal of Public Economics

Volume

207

ISSN

0047-2727

Identifier

10.1016/j.jpubeco.2022.104603

Publisher

Elsevier: 24 months

Comments

The embargo period required by Elsevier is 24 months, but we don't have this option. Please make it 24 months on InK. Thank you.

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2022.104603

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