Non-Monetary Factors in the Demand for Medical services: Some Empirical Evidence,
Abstract
The paper considers the effects of travel distance in determining the demand for medical services in New York City. After developing a formal model of the demand for medical services that includes a payment in money and in time for private care, the predictions are tested on a cross sectional survey of about 2600 users of City hospital out-patient departments (OPDs). Although limitations of the data base indicate cautious interpretation, the empirical results lend support to the model's major predictions. Empirical verification of the conjecture that time is important in determining the demand for care raises a number of important policy issues. These include not only the effect on the distribution of services to recipients of care, they also indicate powerful policy instruments for increasing the medical access of target populations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- ADA001987
Entities
People
- Jan P. Acton
Organizations
- RAND Corporation