Measuring health care access and its inequality: A decomposition approach

• DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2024.106659
• Publication Date: 2024-01-30T20:47:28Z
• Authors: Antonio Abatemarco; Massimo Aria; Sergio Beraldo; Michela Collaro
• Keywords: equality of opportunity; 0502 economics and business; 05 social sciences; health care, equality of opportunity, factor decomposition, health policy; health policy; factor decomposition; Health care; Equality of opportunity; Factor decomposition; Health policy; health care

We introduce a new method for assessing health care access disparities, focusing on the ‘Access Gap’. This gap represents difference between (out-of-pocket) cost of to adequate and available financial resources. Our quantifies this groups with similar characteristics, using indicators like Gini coefficient Entropy overall inequality analysis. Applied breast cancer treatment in Italy, we consider geographic location as primary distinguishing characteristic individual groups. The analysis covers costs transportation, accommodation, doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, non-oncology drugs. Financial resource distribution data comes from Bank Italy. findings show pronounced Access Gap Italy’s southern regions, particularly Campania. decompose understand influence supply-side (provider distribution) demand-side (health spending capacity) factors. results indicate that disparities are mainly driven by elements, specifically regional capacity variations.