Does the Extension of Primary Care Practice Opening Hours Reduce the Use of Emergency Services?

Quaderni - Working Paper DSE N° 978

31 Pages Posted: 14 Nov 2014

See all articles by Matteo Lippi Bruni

Matteo Lippi Bruni

University of Bologna - Department of Economics

Irene Mammi

Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Cristina Ugolini

University of Bologna - Department of Economics

Date Written: November 14, 2014

Abstract

Over-crowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) generates potential inefficiencies. Using regional administrative data, we investigate the impact of an increase in the accessibility of primary care on ED visits in Italy. We test whether extending practice opening hours up to 12 hours/day reduces inappropriate ED visits. We estimate count data models, considering different measures for ED visits recorded at the list level. Since the extension programme is voluntary, we also account for the potential endogeneity of participation, using a two-stage residual inclusion and a GMM approach. Our results show that improving primary care accessibility favours a more appropriate use of EDs.

Keywords: count data models, emergency services, GMM, health econometrics, primary care, two-stage residual inclusion

JEL Classification: I11, I18, C31

Suggested Citation

Lippi Bruni, Matteo and Mammi, Irene and Ugolini, Cristina, Does the Extension of Primary Care Practice Opening Hours Reduce the Use of Emergency Services? (November 14, 2014). Quaderni - Working Paper DSE N° 978, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2524268 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2524268

Matteo Lippi Bruni (Contact Author)

University of Bologna - Department of Economics ( email )

Piazza Scaravilli, 2
40126 Bologna, 40126
Italy

Irene Mammi

Ca' Foscari University of Venice ( email )

Dorsoduro 3246
Venice, Veneto 30123
Italy

Cristina Ugolini

University of Bologna - Department of Economics ( email )

Piazza Scaravilli 2
Bologna, 40126
Italy

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