The effect of predictive analytics-driven interventions on healthcare utilization

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Health Economics
Year: 2019
Volume: 64
Issue: C
Pages: 68-79

Authors (3)

David, Guy (not in RePEc) Smith-McLallen, Aaron (not in RePEc) Ukert, Benjamin (Texas A&M University)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper studies a commercial insurer-driven intervention to improve resource allocation. The insurer developed a claims-based algorithm to derive a member-level healthcare utilization risk score. Members with the highest scores were contacted by a care management team tasked with closing gaps in care. The number of members outreached was dictated by resource availability and not by severity, creating a set of arbitrary cutoff points, separating treated and untreated members with very similar predicted risk scores. Using a regression discontinuity approach, we find evidence that predictive analytics-driven interventions directed at high-risk individuals reduced emergency room and specialist visits, yet not hospitalizations.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jhecon:v:64:y:2019:i:c:p:68-79
Journal Field
Health
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-29