Impact of regional socioeconomic variation on coordination and cost of ambulatory care: investigation of claims data from Bavaria, Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

A considerable proportion of regional variation in healthcare use and health expenditures is to date still unexplained. The aim was to investigate regional differences in the gatekeeping role of general practitioners and to identify relevant explanatory variables at patient and district level in Bavaria, Germany.

Design

Retrospective routine data analysis using claims data held by the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.

Participants

All patients who consulted a specialist in ambulatory practice within the first quarter of 2011 (n=3 616 510).

Outcomes measures

Of primary interest is the effect of district-level measures of rurality, physician density and multiple deprivation on (1) the proportion of patients with general pra

SUBMITTER: Mehring M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5665322 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature