This paper investigates the surgical volume-outcome relationship for patients undergoing hip fracture surgery in Quebec between 1991 and 1993. Using a duration model with multiple destinations which accounts for observed and unobserved (by the researcher) patient characteristics, our initial...

The fraction of US Medicare recipients enrolled in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) has increased substantially over the past 10 years. However, the impact of HMOs on health care costs is still hotly debated. In particular, it is argued that HMOs achieve cost reduction through...

Despite the fact that flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are becoming an increasingly popular employer-provided health benefit, there has been very little empirical study of FSA use among employees at the individual level. This study contributes to the literature on FSAs using a unique data set...

This paper assesses the causal impact of late-term (8th month) maternal smoking on birthweight using data from a randomized clinical trial, in which some women were encouraged not to smoke, while others were not. The estimation of treatment effects in this case is made difficult as a result of...