LDI Research Seminar- Is Blood Thicker Than Water? Cardiologist Peer Effects in the Use of Drug Eluting Stents 12_16_11
1. Since you cannot do good to all,
you are to pay special attention to those who,
by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances,
are brought into closer connection with you.
2. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
Peer Effects and Competition Among Interventional Cardiologists
Marco D. Huesch
Strategy, Health Sector Mgmt, Duke Fuqua School of Business
Community & Family Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine
Health Policy & Management, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development
March 10, 2011
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
3. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
A little about me
MBBS (Medicine and Surgery), Sydney Uni
MBA, INSEAD
MA (Economics), PhD (Strategy); UCLA
Teaching Healthcare provider strategy
Research Mostly processes, structure and interactions in health care
Setting Mostly large-scale cardiovascular and cancer treatment claims data
Research philosophy Health economics as a bridge between public health
and clinical science
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
4. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Francis Moore on health economists ...
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
5. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Francis Moore on health economists ...
“Economists should be advised to spend at least twelve months in a hospital or
medical school,
either as a patient or as an observer and to pass an elementary examination on
this period ...
... we would [then] be spared the problem of redressing the distortions bred of
unfamiliarity.”
Moore, 1977: 460
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
6. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... and on bridge-building...
“The surgical investigator must be a bridge tender, channeling knowledge from
biological science to the patients bedside and back again.
He traces his origins from both ends of the bridge, he is thus a bastard, and
everyone calls him this.
Those at one end of the bridge say that he is not a very good scientist, and
those at the other end say he does not spend enough time in the operating
room.”
Moore [1958:1] in Brennan, 2002
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
7. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... and Dogbert on the value of multiple approaches
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
8. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Research interests across the value chain
Insurer-provider selection effects
Provider quality assessment
Human capital
dynamics Insurer retention and selection
Payment policy vs. outcome and Technology Nudging vs. shoving
spending measurement specificity
Regulators Hospitals Providers Payors Patients
‘Fit’ between hospitals and surgeons Preferences
for resource
Interdependencies without strategic distribution
complementarity
Physician peer effects
Closed vs. open organizations
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
9. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Executive summary
1 We know too little about adoption and abandonment of products,
practices and technology, especially in the markets for medical care
2 Important, interesting but tough questions on the diffusion dynamics of
coronary stents
Overall, did group use influence individual use? Yes, but small effects
Were solo cardiologists influenced by others? No
Was group use influential when partners were at other cath labs? No
Even when sharing labs, did competing cardiologists influence alters? No
3 Slight interventional cardiologist peer influences appeared to require both
shared organizational and physical setting
Practice variations may not easily be amenable to ‘key opinion leaders’
Fragmented industry may leave solo practitioners ‘out of the loop’
‘Non-marketability’ of spillovers may justify more private, public investment;
may support an even broader case for EHR use
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
10. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Executive summary
1 We know too little about adoption and abandonment of products,
practices and technology, especially in the markets for medical care
2 Important, interesting but tough questions on the diffusion dynamics of
coronary stents
Overall, did group use influence individual use? Yes, but small effects
Were solo cardiologists influenced by others? No
Was group use influential when partners were at other cath labs? No
Even when sharing labs, did competing cardiologists influence alters? No
3 Slight interventional cardiologist peer influences appeared to require both
shared organizational and physical setting
Practice variations may not easily be amenable to ‘key opinion leaders’
Fragmented industry may leave solo practitioners ‘out of the loop’
‘Non-marketability’ of spillovers may justify more private, public investment;
may support an even broader case for EHR use
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
11. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Executive summary
1 We know too little about adoption and abandonment of products,
practices and technology, especially in the markets for medical care
2 Important, interesting but tough questions on the diffusion dynamics of
coronary stents
Overall, did group use influence individual use? Yes, but small effects
Were solo cardiologists influenced by others? No
Was group use influential when partners were at other cath labs? No
Even when sharing labs, did competing cardiologists influence alters? No
3 Slight interventional cardiologist peer influences appeared to require both
shared organizational and physical setting
Practice variations may not easily be amenable to ‘key opinion leaders’
Fragmented industry may leave solo practitioners ‘out of the loop’
‘Non-marketability’ of spillovers may justify more private, public investment;
may support an even broader case for EHR use
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
12. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Executive summary
1 We know too little about adoption and abandonment of products,
practices and technology, especially in the markets for medical care
2 Important, interesting but tough questions on the diffusion dynamics of
coronary stents
Overall, did group use influence individual use? Yes, but small effects
Were solo cardiologists influenced by others? No
Was group use influential when partners were at other cath labs? No
Even when sharing labs, did competing cardiologists influence alters? No
3 Slight interventional cardiologist peer influences appeared to require both
shared organizational and physical setting
Practice variations may not easily be amenable to ‘key opinion leaders’
Fragmented industry may leave solo practitioners ‘out of the loop’
‘Non-marketability’ of spillovers may justify more private, public investment;
may support an even broader case for EHR use
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
13. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Impetus
“Some interventional cardiologists are beginning to talk among themselves
about a problem some of them think they have seen with drug coated stents.”
Rich Fogoros, clinical cardiologist, weblog 9/30/2005.
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
14. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Questions
Theme: Diffusion dynamics ⇐⇒ business dynamics
Importance: Evidence-based practices. Practice variations and
harmonization. Heterogeneous adoption and abandonment.
Background: Mixed evidence, under-researched
1 Social influences drives adoption of technology
2 Key opinion leaders drive adoption of medical best practices
3 Information diffusion affected by industry and firm dynamics
Setting: rapid abandonment of BMS stents after 2003, migration to DES
stents by 2004, decreases in DES use by many physicians ahead of public
info on late side-effects.
Did social influences drive these dynamics? Did physician practice
organization impact this? What about competition? How does this inform
efforts to enhance evidence-based practice?
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
15. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Physician ‘peer influences’: multiple disciplinary lenses...
Economics lens Sociology lens Combined lens
Information spillovers Physician orientation Stochastic network
Arrow, 1963 or towards ‘collectivity’ threshold models
cascades Bikhchandani Arrow, 1963 Granovetter, 1978
et al, 2002
Social influences from Heterogeneous
Adoption locally socially central, susceptibility to
reduces others’ costs cohesive alters influence, propensity to
Escarce, 1997 or risk Coleman et al, 1966; adopt, and own
Burke et al, 2004, or Burke et al, 2007; ‘infectiousness’ Strang
increases others’ Iyengar et al, 2011 & Tuma, 1993
productivity Chandra &
Structurally equivalent Accounting for
Staiger, 2007; Shoder
physician rivals and contextual effects such
& Lichtenberg, 2010
social status threats as marketing spends
Idiosyncratic adoption Burt, 1987 or not Van den Bulte and
decision Skinner & Marsden & Podolny, Lilien, 2001; Iyengar et
Staiger, 2007 1990 al, 2011
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
16. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Physician ‘peer influences’: multiple disciplinary lenses...
Economics lens Sociology lens Combined lens
Information spillovers Physician orientation Stochastic network
Arrow, 1963 or towards ‘collectivity’ threshold models
cascades Bikhchandani Arrow, 1963 Granovetter, 1978
et al, 2002
Social influences from Heterogeneous
Adoption locally socially central, susceptibility to
reduces others’ costs cohesive alters influence, propensity to
Escarce, 1997 or risk Coleman et al, 1966; adopt, and own
Burke et al, 2004, or Burke et al, 2007; ‘infectiousness’ Strang
increases others’ Iyengar et al, 2011 & Tuma, 1993
productivity Chandra &
Structurally equivalent Accounting for
Staiger, 2007; Shoder
physician rivals and contextual effects such
& Lichtenberg, 2010
social status threats as marketing spends
Idiosyncratic adoption Burt, 1987 or not Van den Bulte and
decision Skinner & Marsden & Podolny, Lilien, 2001; Iyengar et
Staiger, 2007 1990 al, 2011
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
17. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Physician ‘peer influences’: multiple disciplinary lenses...
Economics lens Sociology lens Combined lens
Information spillovers Physician orientation Stochastic network
Arrow, 1963 or towards ‘collectivity’ threshold models
cascades Bikhchandani Arrow, 1963 Granovetter, 1978
et al, 2002
Social influences from Heterogeneous
Adoption locally socially central, susceptibility to
reduces others’ costs cohesive alters influence, propensity to
Escarce, 1997 or risk Coleman et al, 1966; adopt, and own
Burke et al, 2004, or Burke et al, 2007; ‘infectiousness’ Strang
increases others’ Iyengar et al, 2011 & Tuma, 1993
productivity Chandra &
Structurally equivalent Accounting for
Staiger, 2007; Shoder
physician rivals and contextual effects such
& Lichtenberg, 2010
social status threats as marketing spends
Idiosyncratic adoption Burt, 1987 or not Van den Bulte and
decision Skinner & Marsden & Podolny, Lilien, 2001; Iyengar et
Staiger, 2007 1990 al, 2011
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
18. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Physician ‘peer influences’: multiple disciplinary lenses...
Economics lens Sociology lens Combined lens
Information spillovers Physician orientation Stochastic network
Arrow, 1963 or towards ‘collectivity’ threshold models
cascades Bikhchandani Arrow, 1963 Granovetter, 1978
et al, 2002
Social influences from Heterogeneous
Adoption locally socially central, susceptibility to
reduces others’ costs cohesive alters influence, propensity to
Escarce, 1997 or risk Coleman et al, 1966; adopt, and own
Burke et al, 2004, or Burke et al, 2007; ‘infectiousness’ Strang
increases others’ Iyengar et al, 2011 & Tuma, 1993
productivity Chandra &
Structurally equivalent Accounting for
Staiger, 2007; Shoder
physician rivals and contextual effects such
& Lichtenberg, 2010
social status threats as marketing spends
Idiosyncratic adoption Burt, 1987 or not Van den Bulte and
decision Skinner & Marsden & Podolny, Lilien, 2001; Iyengar et
Staiger, 2007 1990 al, 2011
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
19. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... several unanswered questions, ...
Strategic ‘dummy’-ness? Observability of practices? Info non-marketability?
Altruism ⇒ more Can’t see/find out ⇒ Low info spillovers ⇒
trustful cooperation? can’t imitate/learn? practice variations?
Expectations of mutual Must acquire info or Strong consensus
benefits among some observe for strategic Glover, 1938; Arrow,
competitors Ingram & mimesis Greve, 1995, 1963; Wennberg &
Roberts, 2000; Uzzi & herding Rao et al, Gittelsohn, 1973;
Lancaster, 2003, but 2001, or status anxiety Phelps, 2002; Valente
more competition helps Jensen, 2006 & Davis, 1999;
too Bothner, 2003 Berwick, 2003
Contacts and info flow
Strategic intent informs assumed Huckman, Use key opinion leaders
tie formation Ryall & 2003 or inferred from Soumerai, 1998;
Sorenson, 2007; Stuart network self-reports Meltzer, 2006 or just
& Sorenson, 2008 so Coleman et al, 1966; C force info revelation?
flow of knowledge too? & F, 2007-9 InterMountain’s pre-39
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
20. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... several unanswered questions, ...
Strategic ‘dummy’-ness? Observability of practices? Info non-marketability?
Altruism ⇒ more Can’t see/find out ⇒ Low info spillovers ⇒
trustful cooperation? can’t imitate/learn? practice variations?
Expectations of mutual Must acquire info or Strong consensus
benefits among some observe for strategic Glover, 1938; Arrow,
competitors Ingram & mimesis Greve, 1995, 1963; Wennberg &
Roberts, 2000; Uzzi & herding Rao et al, Gittelsohn, 1973;
Lancaster, 2003, but 2001, or status anxiety Phelps, 2002; Valente
more competition helps Jensen, 2006 & Davis, 1999;
too Bothner, 2003 Berwick, 2003
Contacts and info flow
Strategic intent informs assumed Huckman, Use key opinion leaders
tie formation Ryall & 2003 or inferred from Soumerai, 1998;
Sorenson, 2007; Stuart network self-reports Meltzer, 2006 or just
& Sorenson, 2008 so Coleman et al, 1966; C force info revelation?
flow of knowledge too? & F, 2007-9 InterMountain’s pre-39
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
21. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... several unanswered questions, ...
Strategic ‘dummy’-ness? Observability of practices? Info non-marketability?
Altruism ⇒ more Can’t see/find out ⇒ Low info spillovers ⇒
trustful cooperation? can’t imitate/learn? practice variations?
Expectations of mutual Must acquire info or Strong consensus
benefits among some observe for strategic Glover, 1938; Arrow,
competitors Ingram & mimesis Greve, 1995, 1963; Wennberg &
Roberts, 2000; Uzzi & herding Rao et al, Gittelsohn, 1973;
Lancaster, 2003, but 2001, or status anxiety Phelps, 2002; Valente
more competition helps Jensen, 2006 & Davis, 1999;
too Bothner, 2003 Berwick, 2003
Contacts and info flow
Strategic intent informs assumed Huckman, Use key opinion leaders
tie formation Ryall & 2003 or inferred from Soumerai, 1998;
Sorenson, 2007; Stuart network self-reports Meltzer, 2006 or just
& Sorenson, 2008 so Coleman et al, 1966; C force info revelation?
flow of knowledge too? & F, 2007-9 InterMountain’s pre-39
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
22. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... several unanswered questions, ...
Strategic ‘dummy’-ness? Observability of practices? Info non-marketability?
Altruism ⇒ more Can’t see/find out ⇒ Low info spillovers ⇒
trustful cooperation? can’t imitate/learn? practice variations?
Expectations of mutual Must acquire info or Strong consensus
benefits among some observe for strategic Glover, 1938; Arrow,
competitors Ingram & mimesis Greve, 1995, 1963; Wennberg &
Roberts, 2000; Uzzi & herding Rao et al, Gittelsohn, 1973;
Lancaster, 2003, but 2001, or status anxiety Phelps, 2002; Valente
more competition helps Jensen, 2006 & Davis, 1999;
too Bothner, 2003 Berwick, 2003
Contacts and info flow
Strategic intent informs assumed Huckman, Use key opinion leaders
tie formation Ryall & 2003 or inferred from Soumerai, 1998;
Sorenson, 2007; Stuart network self-reports Meltzer, 2006 or just
& Sorenson, 2008 so Coleman et al, 1966; C force info revelation?
flow of knowledge too? & F, 2007-9 InterMountain’s pre-39
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
23. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... and unresolved, controversial empirical problems
1 Theoretical model
Model in/ex-novation events, or changes in ‘continuous’ levels of use?
Influences are a flow, weakly increasing stock, or flexible stock?
2 Statistical model and estimation
Theory ⇒ stochastic element, or just ‘add’ to mean structure? Van den
Bulte & Lilien, 1999
Joint probability distribution ⇔ theory? C & F, 2007-2009; Lyons, 2010
Estimation ⇔ assumed error covariance structure? CI’s? Lyons, 2010
3 Estimate interpretation
Reflection problem Manski, 1993
Exogenous pre-treatment effects Manski, 1993; Sacerdote, 2001; Lyle, 2007
Unobserved heterogeneity McGuire et al, 2003; Armstrong, 2003
Correlated effects - non-random sorting Manski, 1993; Sacerdote, 2001
Correlated effects - common shocks Weber, 1921; Granovetter, 1978; Van
den Bulte & Lilien, 2001; Lyle, 2007; Cohen-Cole & Fletcher, 2008
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
24. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... and unresolved, controversial empirical problems
1 Theoretical model
Model in/ex-novation events, or changes in ‘continuous’ levels of use?
Influences are a flow, weakly increasing stock, or flexible stock?
2 Statistical model and estimation
Theory ⇒ stochastic element, or just ‘add’ to mean structure? Van den
Bulte & Lilien, 1999
Joint probability distribution ⇔ theory? C & F, 2007-2009; Lyons, 2010
Estimation ⇔ assumed error covariance structure? CI’s? Lyons, 2010
3 Estimate interpretation
Reflection problem Manski, 1993
Exogenous pre-treatment effects Manski, 1993; Sacerdote, 2001; Lyle, 2007
Unobserved heterogeneity McGuire et al, 2003; Armstrong, 2003
Correlated effects - non-random sorting Manski, 1993; Sacerdote, 2001
Correlated effects - common shocks Weber, 1921; Granovetter, 1978; Van
den Bulte & Lilien, 2001; Lyle, 2007; Cohen-Cole & Fletcher, 2008
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
25. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... and unresolved, controversial empirical problems
1 Theoretical model
Model in/ex-novation events, or changes in ‘continuous’ levels of use?
Influences are a flow, weakly increasing stock, or flexible stock?
2 Statistical model and estimation
Theory ⇒ stochastic element, or just ‘add’ to mean structure? Van den
Bulte & Lilien, 1999
Joint probability distribution ⇔ theory? C & F, 2007-2009; Lyons, 2010
Estimation ⇔ assumed error covariance structure? CI’s? Lyons, 2010
3 Estimate interpretation
Reflection problem Manski, 1993
Exogenous pre-treatment effects Manski, 1993; Sacerdote, 2001; Lyle, 2007
Unobserved heterogeneity McGuire et al, 2003; Armstrong, 2003
Correlated effects - non-random sorting Manski, 1993; Sacerdote, 2001
Correlated effects - common shocks Weber, 1921; Granovetter, 1978; Van
den Bulte & Lilien, 2001; Lyle, 2007; Cohen-Cole & Fletcher, 2008
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
26. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Major intervention treating life-threatening disease
Ischemic heart disease
Bypass versus stenting
PCI/PTCA, BMS and DES
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
27. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Market-level aggregate use...
Diffusion of DES Stent Innovation
(Florida, 1998 - 2006, quarterly data)
20,000
FDA Approval Basel Study Out
Stent/CABG
substitution PTCA
15,000
DES approval
Quarterly Admissions
BMS decline 10,000 DES
Late stent thrombosis
problem
5,000
BASKET-LATE trial BMS
0
'98 Q1 '99 Q1 '00 Q1 '01 Q1 '02 Q1 '03 Q1 '04 Q1 '05 Q1 '06 Q1 '07 Q1
Individual spells
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
28. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... standardized dispersion in cases ...
Standardized dispersion of individual DES use Standardized dispersion of practice group DES use
(Q1, 2003 - Q4, 2006; coefficient of variation in individuals' quarterly total DES cases) (Q1, 2003 - Q4, 2006; coefficient of variation in groups' quarterly total DES cases)
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.1
3
3
2
3
4
4
2
3
4
5
2
3
4
6
2
3
4
7
2
3
4
4
2
3
4
5
2
3
4
6
2
3
4
7
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q1, 2003 value = 8.7 (not shown). Lowess bandwidth = .6 Quarters Q1, 2003 value = 7.2 (not shown). Lowess bandwidth = .6 Quarters
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
29. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... and standardized dispersion in usage rate over time
Standardized dispersion of DES rate of use at individual level Standardized dispersion of DES rate at practice group level
(Q1, 2003 - Q4, 2006: coefficient of variation of individual operators' DES/PTCA ratios) (Q1, 2003 - Q4, 2006; coefficient of variation of DES/PTCA ratio)
1
1
.8
.8
.6
.6
.4
.4
.2
.2
0
0
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
3
4
5
6
7
3
4
5
6
7
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
'0
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
Quarter
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Note: Q1, 2003 value = 8.8 (not shown). Lowess bandwidth = .6 Note: Q1, 2003 value = 7.3 (not shown). Lowess bandwidth = .6 Quarters
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
30. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Distribution of public information
Regulators
FDA Taxus FDA ACC FDA FDA ACC
approves stocks changes updates comment warns on Guidelines
Taxus recall labelling Guidelines on LST LST updated
WSJ
Media
Fogoros WSJ SCAI
on
blogs clear on Clinical
DES
on LST LST Alert
cutbacks
ESC ACC Conf. WCC TCT
Conferences
notes finds clear on clear on
ESC finds LST LST LST LST
good long ESC
term finds
ACC LST CRT
results ESC TCT
Conf. Conf.
clear on clear on
notes notes
LST LST
LST LST
JACC
JACC JAMA NEJM Heart
The ‘Review’
finds finds clear on on ‘off
Academy
Lancet notes
JACC LAST LST LST label’
finds LST
‘Review’
LST
JACC Circul-
JACC JACC
‘Review’ ation
discusses reports
notes clear on
LST ESC
LST LST
2004 2005 2006 2007+
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
33. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
36 counties, 179 practice groups, 575 group cardios, 414 solos
County
attenuated competition
locally competing
Group Group Solo
Practice Practice Cardiologists
partners
Focal Other
Competitors
Cardiologist cardiologists
Competitors
IO data
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
34. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Use of DES will be positively correlated between cardio group members
County
attenuated competition
locally competing
H1
Group Group Solo
Practice Practice Cardiologists
partners
Focal
Cardiologist + Other
cardiologists
Competitors
Competitors
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
35. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Solo cardios’ practice will not be correlated with anyone else
County
attenuated competition
locally competing
Group Group Solo
Practice Practice Cardiologists
partners
H1
Focal Other
Cardiologist cardiologists
Competitors
~
Competitors
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
36. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
But production is at cath labs not practice group offices
6q3
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
37. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Even if producing at different sites, partner cardios’ practice will correlate
County
attenuated competition
locally competing
Group Group Solo
Practice Practice Cardiologists
partners
H2
Focal
Cardiologist + Other
cardiologists
Competitors
different cath lab different cath lab
Competitors
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
38. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Even if producing at same site, competitors’ practice will not correlate
County
attenuated competition
locally competing
Group Group Solo
Practice Practice Cardiologists
partners
H3
Focal Other
Competitors
Cardiologist cardiologists
~
Competitors
shared cath lab
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
39. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Statistical model and inference problems
OwnUsei,p,t = α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + δCharacteristicsi + i,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + δCharacteristicsi + Timet + Areai + ζi,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + Timet + Areai + PhysicianFEi + Selecti,p + ηi,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + Timet + Areai + PhysicianFEi + Selecti,p + MainHospi,t + θi,p,t
Empirical problem
Don’t observe variation in i’s matches with practice groups p
Physician fixed effects will be ‘collinear’ with exogenous, pre-treatment effect of partners
Can’t control for (likely additional) time-varying homophily at the practice group level
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
40. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Statistical model and inference problems
OwnUsei,p,t = α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + δCharacteristicsi + i,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + δCharacteristicsi + Timet + Areai + ζi,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + Timet + Areai + PhysicianFEi + Selecti,p + ηi,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + Timet + Areai + PhysicianFEi + Selecti,p + MainHospi,t + θi,p,t
Empirical problem
Don’t observe variation in i’s matches with practice groups p
Physician fixed effects will be ‘collinear’ with exogenous, pre-treatment effect of partners
Can’t control for (likely additional) time-varying homophily at the practice group level
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
41. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Statistical model and inference problems
OwnUsei,p,t = α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + δCharacteristicsi + i,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + δCharacteristicsi + Timet + Areai + ζi,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + Timet + Areai + PhysicianFEi + Selecti,p + ηi,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + Timet + Areai + PhysicianFEi + Selecti,p + MainHospi,t + θi,p,t
Empirical problem
Don’t observe variation in i’s matches with practice groups p
Physician fixed effects will be ‘collinear’ with exogenous, pre-treatment effect of partners
Can’t control for (likely additional) time-varying homophily at the practice group level
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
42. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Statistical model and inference problems
OwnUsei,p,t = α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + δCharacteristicsi + i,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + δCharacteristicsi + Timet + Areai + ζi,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + Timet + Areai + PhysicianFEi + Selecti,p + ηi,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + Timet + Areai + PhysicianFEi + Selecti,p + MainHospi,t + θi,p,t
Empirical problem
Don’t observe variation in i’s matches with practice groups p
Physician fixed effects will be ‘collinear’ with exogenous, pre-treatment effect of partners
Can’t control for (likely additional) time-varying homophily at the practice group level
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
43. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Statistical model and inference problems
OwnUsei,p,t = α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + δCharacteristicsi + i,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + δCharacteristicsi + Timet + Areai + ζi,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + Timet + Areai + PhysicianFEi + Selecti,p + ηi,p,t
= α + βPartnerUsei,p−i,t−1 + γCompUsei,c−p,t−1 + Timet + Areai + PhysicianFEi + Selecti,p + MainHospi,t + θi,p,t
Empirical problem
Don’t observe variation in i’s matches with practice groups p
Physician fixed effects will be ‘collinear’ with exogenous, pre-treatment effect of partners
Can’t control for (likely additional) time-varying homophily at the practice group level
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
44. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Point differences between group and non-group PTCA physicians
Selected physician characteristics Group practitioners Solo practitioners
Female gender 3.1 5.8
Overseas MD or training 6.1 5.1
Last year of training 1991 1991
Training as internist 84.7 75.7
As cardiologist 78.0 69.6
As interventionalist 17.2 16.7
Trained in ‘Honor Roll’ institution 20.3 17.1
In ‘Heart Hospital’ institution 45.6 37.7
In ‘Top 25’ institution 28.3 22.5
In ‘Top 10’ institution 17.1 13.1
Staff privileges, number of hospitals 2.8 2.4
Licensed outside of FL 78.6 81.9
Outside USA 1.1 2.0
Holds faculty post 0.2 0.2
Credentials in internal medicine, number 1.6 1.3
In cardiology 1.0 0.8
In interventional cardiology 0.2 0.1
Quarterly stent cases 23.3 18.5
Practice size, members 5.5 1.0
Participation, quarters 12.0 10.2
Total patients in 2003-2006 279 189
In 1998-2002 348 238
Early DES adoption in 2002 Q4 1.5 2.3
In 2003 Q1 1.7 1.3
In 2003 Q2 65.8 65.5
%, unless noted. N = 575 for group, 414 for solo. Institutional ranks as per 2007 USN&WR.
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
45. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Strong impact of observed physician characteristics
How many DES cases did a physician perform in the quarter?
Female gender -2.23∗∗∗ Staff privileges, (#) -0.25∗
(0.97) (0.10)
Last year of training -0.01 Licensed outside of FL 0.87∗∗∗
(0.02) (0.15)
Overseas MD or training 1.96∗∗ Outside USA 2.75∗
(0.72) (1.39)
Training as internist 2.74 ∗∗∗ Solo in a multi-specialty center -1.98∗
(0.59) (0.99)
As cardiologist 2.47∗∗∗ Solo in a standalone office -2.34∗∗∗
(0.51) (0.44)
As interventionalist 4.17∗∗∗ Group partners (#) 0.14∗
(0.48) (0.06)
Trained in ‘Honor Roll’ institution -2.18 ∗∗∗ Use of DES before FDA mktg approval 9.87∗∗∗
(0.54) (0.40)
In ‘Heart Hospital’ institution 1.30∗∗ Quarterly average cath labs worked across 7.87∗∗∗
(0.45) (0.37)
In ‘Top 25’ institution 1.97 ∗∗
(0.57)
Credentials in internal medicine, (#) 0.58¶ Quarterly fixed effects, F -test 87∗∗∗
(0.33)
In cardiology -2.91∗∗∗ Main hospital fixed effects, F -test 26∗∗∗
(0.51)
In interventional cardiology 6.09∗∗∗ R2 0.35
(0.61) F -test 122∗∗∗
Holds faculty post 0.44 Obs (physician*qtrs) 10,895
(0.45) Obs (physician) 989
Pooled least squares regression on physician quarterly DES cases for all operators. Estimates (¶), (*), (**), (***) at p-values ≤ .10, .05,
.01 and .001 with (robust standard errors clustered by physician)
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
46. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
DES use by group physicians: null model with physician characteristics
How many DES cases did a group physician perform in the quarter?
Lagged variables Model 0a Model 1a Model 2a Model 3a Model 4a Model 5a Model 6a
DES cases by partners
By group competitors
By solo competitors
Quarterly fixed effects
County operators (#)
Physician covariates Yes
Physician f.e.
Main hospital f.e.
R2 0.17
F -test 15∗∗∗
Obs (physician*qtrs) 6,815
Obs (physicians) 568
Pooled least squares (models 0-4) and physician fixed effects panel regressions (models 5-6) on quarterly DES cases of interventionalists in
group practice. Estimates (*), (**), (***) at p-values ≤ .05, .01 and .001 with (robust standard errors clustered by physician)
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
47. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
Impact of partner use...
How many DES cases did a group physician perform in the quarter?
Lagged variables Model 0a Model 1a Model 2a Model 3a Model 4a Model 5a Model 6a
DES cases by partners 0.083∗∗∗
(0.012)
By group competitors
By solo competitors
Quarterly fixed effects
County operators (#)
Physician covariates Yes Yes
Physician f.e.
Main hospital f.e.
R2 0.17 0.24
F -test 15∗∗∗ 16∗∗∗
Obs (physician*qtrs) 6,815 5,760
Obs (physicians) 568 549
Pooled least squares (models 0-4) and physician fixed effects panel regressions (models 5-6) on quarterly DES cases of interventionalists in
group practice. Estimates (*), (**), (***) at p-values ≤ .05, .01 and .001 with (robust standard errors clustered by physician)
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
48. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... adding impact of competitor use at county level...
How many DES cases did a group physician perform in the quarter?
Lagged variables Model 0a Model 1a Model 2a Model 3a Model 4a Model 5a Model 6a
DES cases by partners 0.083∗∗∗ 0.086∗∗∗
(0.012) (0.012)
By group competitors -0.007∗∗
(0.002)
By solo competitors -0.004∗∗∗
(0.004)
Quarterly fixed effects
County operators (#)
Physician covariates Yes Yes Yes
Physician f.e.
Main hospital f.e.
R2 0.17 0.24 0.24
F -test 15∗∗∗ 16∗∗∗ 16∗∗∗
Obs (physician*qtrs) 6,815 5,760 5,760
Obs (physicians) 568 549 549
Pooled least squares (models 0-4) and physician fixed effects panel regressions (models 5-6) on quarterly DES cases of interventionalists in
group practice. Estimates (*), (**), (***) at p-values ≤ .05, .01 and .001 with (robust standard errors clustered by physician)
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
49. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... controlling for time-varying common shocks...
How many DES cases did a group physician perform in the quarter?
Lagged variables Model 0a Model 1a Model 2a Model 3a Model 4a Model 5a Model 6a
DES cases by partners 0.083∗∗∗ 0.086∗∗∗ 0.065∗∗∗
(0.012) (0.012) (0.014)
By group competitors -0.007∗∗ -0.011∗∗∗
(0.002) (0.003)
By solo competitors -0.004∗∗∗ -0.003∗∗∗
(0.004) (0.005)
Quarterly fixed effects Yes
County operators (#)
Physician covariates Yes Yes Yes Yes
Physician f.e.
Main hospital f.e.
R2 0.17 0.24 0.24 0.27
F -test 15∗∗∗ 16∗∗∗ 16∗∗∗ 19∗∗∗
Obs (physician*qtrs) 6,815 5,760 5,760 5,760
Obs (physicians) 568 549 549 549
Pooled least squares (models 0-4) and physician fixed effects panel regressions (models 5-6) on quarterly DES cases of interventionalists in
group practice. Estimates (*), (**), (***) at p-values ≤ .05, .01 and .001 with (robust standard errors clustered by physician)
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
50. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... and for space-varying common shocks, potential zero-sum effects...
How many DES cases did a group physician perform in the quarter?
Lagged variables Model 0a Model 1a Model 2a Model 3a Model 4a Model 5a Model 6a
DES cases by partners 0.083∗∗∗ 0.086∗∗∗ 0.065∗∗∗ 0.066∗∗∗
(0.012) (0.012) (0.014) (0.014)
By group competitors -0.007∗∗ -0.011∗∗∗ -0.004∗∗
(0.002) (0.003) (0.004)
By solo competitors -0.004∗∗∗ -0.003∗∗∗ 0.006∗∗∗
(0.004) (0.005) (0.007)
Quarterly fixed effects Yes Yes
County operators (#) -0.137∗
(0.057)
Physician covariates Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Physician f.e.
Main hospital f.e.
R2 0.17 0.24 0.24 0.27 0.28
F -test 15∗∗∗ 16∗∗∗ 16∗∗∗ 19∗∗∗ 18∗∗∗
Obs (physician*qtrs) 6,815 5,760 5,760 5,760 5,755
Obs (physicians) 568 549 549 549 547
Pooled least squares (models 0-4) and physician fixed effects panel regressions (models 5-6) on quarterly DES cases of interventionalists in
group practice. Estimates (*), (**), (***) at p-values ≤ .05, .01 and .001 with (robust standard errors clustered by physician)
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?
51. Questions Literature Empirics Conclusions
... switching to physician fixed effects...
How many DES cases did a group physician perform in the quarter?
Lagged variables Model 0a Model 1a Model 2a Model 3a Model 4a Model 5a Model 6a
DES cases by partners 0.083∗∗∗ 0.086∗∗∗ 0.065∗∗∗ 0.066∗∗∗ 0.017∗
(0.012) (0.012) (0.014) (0.014) (0.007)
By group competitors -0.007∗∗ -0.011∗∗∗ -0.004∗∗ -0.007∗∗
(0.002) (0.003) (0.004) (0.003)
By solo competitors -0.004∗∗∗ -0.003∗∗∗ 0.006∗∗∗ -0.011∗∗
(0.004) (0.005) (0.007) (0.003)
Quarterly fixed effects Yes Yes Yes
County operators (#) -0.137∗ -0.163∗∗
(0.057) (0.061)
Physician covariates Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Physician f.e. Yes
Main hospital f.e.
R2 0.17 0.24 0.24 0.27 0.28 0.23
F -test 15∗∗∗ 16∗∗∗ 16∗∗∗ 19∗∗∗ 18∗∗∗ 25∗∗∗
Obs (physician*qtrs) 6,815 5,760 5,760 5,760 5,755 5,785
Obs (physicians) 568 549 549 549 547 553
Pooled least squares (models 0-4) and physician fixed effects panel regressions (models 5-6) on quarterly DES cases of interventionalists in
group practice. Estimates (*), (**), (***) at p-values ≤ .05, .01 and .001 with (robust standard errors clustered by physician)
Huesch Is Blood Thicker Than Water?