Are Factor Substitutions in HMO Industry Operations Cost Saving?

Past research on the potentials for cost-saving scale and scope economies in multiproduct HMO operations in the United States are incomplete in their economics of the underlying technology structure. This article exploits the translog cost model estimates of all past studies of HMO production to inf...

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Publicado en:Southern Economic Journal Vol. 69; no. 4; pp. 800 - 822
Autor principal: Okunade, Albert A.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Southern Economic Association April 2003
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      pub: Southern Economic Association
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        atl: Are Factor Substitutions in HMO Industry Operations Cost Saving?
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        au: Okunade, Albert A.
      su:
        Health maintenance organizations
        Mathematical models
        Medical care costs
        Mathematical models in business
        Industrial costs
      sug:
        subj:
          Health maintenance organizations
          Mathematical models
          Medical care costs
          Mathematical models in business
          Industrial costs
      ab: Past research on the potentials for cost-saving scale and scope economies in multiproduct HMO operations in the United States are incomplete in their economics of the underlying technology structure. This article exploits the translog cost model estimates of all past studies of HMO production to infer the extent to which pairwise factor substitutions (e.g., administrative services vs. medical care resources, e.g., hospital days, physician services) suggest potential for cost savings in groups and independent practice associations. Given the industry's nonhomothetic production over a 20-year period, the conceptually valid Morishima elasticity measure at constant output reveals limited cost-saving potentials from factor interchange and input demands. These opportunities differ for groups and IPAs across Medicare and non-Medicare products. My findings add a timely and significant dimension to understanding potential cost savings in HMO operations. Policy suggestions and cost implications are rationalized in light of the declining Medicare HMO enrollment and recent changes in factor input prices. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
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    language: English
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