Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/39001 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 3002
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
This paper explores different empirical strategies to examine the effect of cost sharing for prescription drugs in some dimensions of medication-related quality, namely the probability of inappropriate prescription drug use among United States seniors. Using data from 1996 to 2005, we explore various specifications that correct for sample selection, endogeneity, and unobserved heterogeneity. We find a small, but measurable, negative price elasticity for inappropriate drug use with respect to self-reported average out-of-pocket costs for all drugs consumed. That is, user fees reduce the use of potentially inappropriate medications, however the elasticity of cost sharing is lower than that of drugs in general and the price elasticity is relatively close to zero, suggesting that any quality improvements from co-payments are small.
JEL: 
I18
I10
Document Type: 
Working Paper
Appears in Collections:

Files in This Item:
File
Size
259.08 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.