蝌蚪网 Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
After Midnight: A Regression Discontinuity Design in Length of Postpartum Hospital Stays
蝌蚪网 Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 3,
no. 3, August 2011
(pp. 1–34)
Abstract
Estimates of moral hazard in health insurance markets can be confounded by adverse selection. This paper considers a plausibly exogenous source of variation in insurance coverage for childbirth in California. We find that additional health insurance coverage induces substantial extensions in length of hospital stay for mother and newborn. However, remaining in the hospital longer has no effect on readmissions or mortality, and the estimates are precise. Our results suggest that for uncomplicated births, minimum insurance mandates incur substantial costs without detectable health benefits. (JEL D82, G22, I12, I18, J13)Citation
Almond, Douglas, and Joseph J. Doyle. 2011. "After Midnight: A Regression Discontinuity Design in Length of Postpartum Hospital Stays." 蝌蚪网 Journal: Economic Policy 3 (3): 1–34. DOI: 10.1257/pol.3.3.1Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D82 Asymmetric and Private Information
- G22 Insurance; Insurance Companies
- I12 Health Production
- I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
- J13 Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth