A more complete measure of vertical integration between physicians and hospitals.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To develop an accurate and reproducible measure of vertical integration between physicians and hospitals (defined as hospital or health system employment of physicians), which can be used to assess the impact of integration on healthcare quality and spending.

Data sources and study setting

We use multiple data sources including from the Internal Revenue Service, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and others to determine the Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) that hospitals and physicians use to bill Medicare for services, and link physician billing TINs to hospital-related TINs.

Study design

We developed a new measure of vertical integration, based on the TINs that hospitals and physicians use to bill Medicare, using a broad set of sources for ho

SUBMITTER: Luo QE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11250383 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature