Using quantile regression to examine health care expenditures during the Great Recession.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the association between the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and health care expenditures along the health care spending distribution, with a focus on racial/ethnic disparities.

Data sources/study setting

Secondary data analyses of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2005-2006 and 2008-2009).

Study design

Quantile multivariate regressions are employed to measure the different associations between the economic recession of 2007-2009 and health care spending. Race/ethnicity and interaction terms between race/ethnicity and a recession indicator are controlled to examine whether minorities encountered disproportionately lower health spending during the economic recession.

Principal findings

The Great Recession was significantly associated with re

SUBMITTER: Chen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3976194 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature