Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Exploring differences between public and private providers in primary care: Findings from a large Swedish region

Glenngård, Anna LU (2023) In Health Economics, Policy and Law 18(3). p.219-233
Abstract
This study contributes to the sparse literature on differences between public and private primary care practices (PCCs). The purpose was to explore if differences in performance and characteristics between public and PCCs persist over time in a welfare market with patient choice and provider competition, where public and private providers operate under similar conditions. The analysis is based on data from a national patient survey and administrative registries in a large Swedish region, covering PCC observations in 2010 and 2019, i.e., the year after and 10 years after introducing choice and competition in the region. The findings suggest that differences across owner types tend to decrease over time in welfare markets. Differences in... (More)
This study contributes to the sparse literature on differences between public and private primary care practices (PCCs). The purpose was to explore if differences in performance and characteristics between public and PCCs persist over time in a welfare market with patient choice and provider competition, where public and private providers operate under similar conditions. The analysis is based on data from a national patient survey and administrative registries in a large Swedish region, covering PCC observations in 2010 and 2019, i.e., the year after and 10 years after introducing choice and competition in the region. The findings suggest that differences across owner types tend to decrease over time in welfare markets. Differences in patients' experiences, PCC size, patient mix and the division of labour have decreased or disappeared between 2010 and 2019. There were small but significant differences in process measures of quality in 2019; public PCCs complied better with prescription guidelines. While the results demonstrate a convergence between public and private PCCs in regards to their characteristics and performance, differences in patients' experiences in regards to socioeconomic conditions persisted. Such unwarranted variation calls for continued attention from policy makers and further research about causes. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Equity, patients' experiences, performance, primary care, public and private providers, quality, Sweden
in
Health Economics, Policy and Law
volume
18
issue
3
pages
219 - 233
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:36349928
  • scopus:85161811624
ISSN
1744-134X
DOI
10.1017/S1744133122000251
project
Public Management Research
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9c06d746-c155-4dd9-bbd2-e2e54f6d5d77
date added to LUP
2022-10-25 11:39:46
date last changed
2023-12-28 04:06:01
@article{9c06d746-c155-4dd9-bbd2-e2e54f6d5d77,
  abstract     = {{This study contributes to the sparse literature on differences between public and private primary care practices (PCCs). The purpose was to explore if differences in performance and characteristics between public and PCCs persist over time in a welfare market with patient choice and provider competition, where public and private providers operate under similar conditions. The analysis is based on data from a national patient survey and administrative registries in a large Swedish region, covering PCC observations in 2010 and 2019, i.e., the year after and 10 years after introducing choice and competition in the region. The findings suggest that differences across owner types tend to decrease over time in welfare markets. Differences in patients' experiences, PCC size, patient mix and the division of labour have decreased or disappeared between 2010 and 2019. There were small but significant differences in process measures of quality in 2019; public PCCs complied better with prescription guidelines. While the results demonstrate a convergence between public and private PCCs in regards to their characteristics and performance, differences in patients' experiences in regards to socioeconomic conditions persisted. Such unwarranted variation calls for continued attention from policy makers and further research about causes.}},
  author       = {{Glenngård, Anna}},
  issn         = {{1744-134X}},
  keywords     = {{Equity; patients' experiences; performance; primary care; public and private providers; quality; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{219--233}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Health Economics, Policy and Law}},
  title        = {{Exploring differences between public and private providers in primary care: Findings from a large Swedish region}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1744133122000251}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S1744133122000251}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}