医生群体对治疗强度与健康的影响：来自更换医生的证据
Physician Group Influences on Treatment Intensity and Health: Evidence from Physician Switchers
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy · 2025 · [{"name": "Joseph Doyle", "affiliation": ["Alfred P. Sloan Foundation"]}, {"name": "Becky Staiger", "affiliation": ["University of California, Berkeley"]}]
中文摘要
医生之间的治疗强度差异显著，且医生日益以团体形式工作。本文检验团体归属是否影响医生的治疗强度及患者健康。利用Medicare住院索赔数据，我们聚焦于在同一家医院内转换团体的内科医生。事件研究表明，加入治疗强度更高团体的内科医生会立即提高自身治疗强度，弹性为0.27。这一变化体现为因使用价格更高的服务而导致Medicare支出增加。我们未检测到健康结果发生变化，这表明由团体归属诱发的治疗强度可能并不具有生产性。（JEL H51, I11, I13, I18, J44）
Abstract
Treatment intensity varies remarkably across physicians, and physicians are increasingly working in groups. This paper tests whether group affiliation impacts physicians’ treatment intensity and patient health. Using Medicare inpatient claims data, we focus on internists who switch groups within the same hospital. Event studies show that internists who join more-intensive groups immediately increase their own intensity, with an elasticity of 0.27. This change is reflected in higher Medicare spending due to higher-priced services. We do not detect a change in health outcomes, suggesting that treatment intensity induced by group affiliation may not be productive.(JEL H51, I11, I13, I18, J44)