Table 4 The difference-in-difference exponentiated coefficienta (in bold), by type of service.

From: Unique patterns of healthcare utilization following the opening of the Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital

Type of service

Variable

IRR

95% CI

p value

A. Services’ utilization that increased post-market entry

 Specialist care visits (not requiring referral from a primary care physician)b

Post- (vs. pre-market entry)

0.98

0.97–0.99

p = 0.004

Region (Ashdod vs. Netanya)

0.96

0.95–0.97

p < 0.001

Post * Regionc

1.04

1.03–1.06

p < 0.001

 MRI and CT scans

Post- (vs. pre-market entry)

1.06

1.03–1.10

p < 0.001

Region (Ashdod vs. Netanya)

1.21

1.17–1.24

p < 0.001

Post * Regionc

1.04

1.01–1.08

p = 0.022

 Emergency room visits

Post- (vs. pre-market entry)

0.88

0.86–0.91

p < 0.001

Region (Ashdod vs. Netanya)

1.22

1.19–1.25

p < 0.001

Post * Regionc

1.33

1.29–1.38

p < 0.001

B. Services’ utilization that did not change post-market entry

 Number of hospital admissions

Post- (vs. pre-market entry)

1.09

1.02–1.16

p = 0.007

Region (Ashdod vs. Netanya)

0.77

0.74–0.81

p < 0.001

Post * Regionc

1.05

0.97–1.14

p = 0.250

 Total hospitalization days

Post- (vs. pre-market entry)

1.13

1.09–1.18

p < 0.001

Region (Ashdod vs. Netanya)

0.76

0.73–0.78

p < 0.001

Post * Regionc

0.99

0.94–1.04

p = 0.668

C. Services’ utilization that decreased post-market entry

 Primary care visits

Post- (vs. pre-market entry)

1.05

1.04–1.06

p < 0.001

Region (Ashdod vs. Netanya)

1.00

1.00–1.01

p = 0.303

Post * Regionc

0.99

0.98–1.00

p = 0.002

 Specialist care visits (requiring referral from a primary care physician)d

Post- (vs. pre-market entry)

0.90

0.88–0.92

p < 0.001

Region (Ashdod vs. Netanya)

0.73

0.71–0.74

p < 0.001

Post * Regionc

0.89

0.86–0.91

p < 0.001

 Elective surgeries

Post- (vs. pre-market entry)

1.39

1.34–1.45

p < 0.001

Region (Ashdod vs. Netanya)

1.24

1.21–1.27

p < 0.001

Post * Regionc

0.58

0.55–0.60

p < 0.001

  1. aAll models were adjusted to age, sex, comorbidity burden, supplementary health insurance coverage, and SES.
  2. bOphthalmology, orthopedics, gynecology, general surgery, dermatology, otolaryngology.
  3. cAn interaction between region [Ashdod (study group) vs. Netanya (control group)] and post-market entry (vs. pre-market entry). This interaction term reflects the unique change in healthcare utilization of Ashdod region’s enrollees compared to Netanya region’s enrollees after the market entry.
  4. dGastroenterology and cardiology.
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