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Biomedical subjects

R A Musacchio

Publications and source records attributed to R A Musacchio.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Collaborative production and resource allocation: the consequences of prospective payment for hospital care.

This article presents a model of the intensity of care provided by hospitals and physicians and how such intensity was affected by the change to prospective payment by Medicare. Prospective payment introduced an incentive for hospitals to shorten average length of stay, but in order to keep the patient recovery level constant, intensity of inpatient care was forced to increase. Physicians reacted to hospital changes by increasing their own intensity of care provided to inpatients. Implications of the model for admissions and physician office time are also explored. Empirical results indicate that for the period 1983-1987, spanning the introduction of PPS, both hospital and physician intensity of care per inpatient rose significantly.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1990

The production of health care services and changing hospital reimbursement. The role of hospital-medical staff relationships.

The production of health care services has the unique feature that physicians do not face explicit costs for hospital inputs. This paper develops models of the production process given alternative hospital and medical staff relationships, and analyzes the impact of the change in hospital reimbursement under Medicare from a cost-based system to the Prospective Payment System (PPS). A basic theoretical result finds that the switch to PPS forces physicians to alter their input mix, changing both physician and hospital income. The effects of the introduction of PPS on hospital inputs, physician income, and hours of work are empirically examined.

Cooperative Behavior↗
PubMed1986

Hospitals in transition: a perspective.

In recent years, a number of developments have had a far-reaching impact on the structure of the hospital industry. These include the emergence of for-profit corporate entities, the increasing need to access capital markets, income limitations imposed by the prospective payment system for Medicare, shortened lengths of stay, and competition among providers with an excess in bed capacity. Hospitals have responded by joining into various affiliations on a national scale, engaging in local joint ventures, and altering their mix of services.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1984

Physician practice patterns under hospital rate-setting programs.

Earlier studies of hospital rate-setting programs have focused primarily on their ability to contain the growth in hospital utilization and expenditures. While most analysts recognize the central role physicians play in influencing health care utilization and expenditures, regulatory programs have been directed primarily at the hospital. At this time, it is unclear what impact, if any, these programs have had on physicians. Our study presents a preliminary analysis of this issue based on data from 1978 to 1982. When we compared average incomes, fees, and utilization of physician services in states with hospital rate regulations with those in states without such programs, we found significant differences. Average net incomes grew at a 1.9% slower annual rate in states with strict hospital regulatory programs. If hospital regulation is having some impact on physicians, both the physician and hospital sector should be considered when evaluating the ability of these programs to contain health care costs.

Economics, Hospital↗
PubMed1983

Physician acceptance of Medicare patients on assignment.

The determinants of the assignment rates of physician services under Medicare are analyzed in this paper. A theoretical model of physician behavior is developed to capture the carrot and stick nature of the assignment decision resulting from the uncertainty of patient payment. The optimization conditions of the physician's problem indicate that assignment rates are determined by market prices, Medicare fees, and physicians' assessments of their patients' payment likelihoods. The theoretical findings are tested using an empirical model based on observed prices and selected proxy variables for the probability of payment. Results, based on a Tobit analysis that predicts elasticities for the price and proxy variables, are consistent with the theoretical model implying that economic incentives and patient payment probabilities are important determinants of assignment rates.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Guidelines for medical and health information sites on the internet: principles governing AMA web sites. American Medical Association.

Access to medical information via the Internet has the potential to speed the transformation of the patient-physician relationship from that of physician authority ministering advice and treatment to that of shared decision making between patient and physician. However, barriers impeding this transformation include wide variations in quality of content on the Web, potential for commercial interests to influence online content, and uncertain preservation of personal privacy. To address these issues, the American Medical Association (AMA) has developed principles to guide development and posting of Web site content, govern acquisition and posting of online advertising and sponsorship, ensure site visitors' and patients' rights to privacy and confidentiality, and provide effective and secure means of e-commerce. While these guidelines were developed for the AMA Web sites and visitors to these sites, they also may be useful to other providers and users of medical information on the Web. These principles have been developed with the understanding that they will require frequent revision to keep pace with evolving technology and practices on the Internet. The AMA encourages review and feedback from readers, Web site visitors, policymakers, and all others interested in providing reliable quality information via the Web.

American Medical Association↗