Health Affairs
Anthony DL, Herndon MB, Gallagher PM, Barnato AE, Bynum JPW, Gottlieb DJ, Fisher ES and Skinner JS
Regional variation in health care use may stem, in part, from the fact that patients in high-utilization regions demand and receive more-intensive care. We examine the association between patients’ care-seeking preferences and use of services, using a national survey of Medicare patients. Patients’ preferences, in addition to health and socio-demographic characteristics, are associated with differences in individuals’ use of office visits. However, we find that patients’ preferences for seeking primary and specialty medical care do not play a significant role in explaining regional variation in health care use.