000			02146nam a22001577a 4500
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100			_aGodoy, A. et al _958941
245			_aHospital queues, patient health, and labor supply
260			_aAmerican Economic Journal: Economic Policy
300			_a16(2), May, 2024: p.150-181
520			_aThis paper examines the consequences of delayed treatment by analyzing variation in queue congestion for orthopedic surgery. Results show that longer wait times do not increase overall health care utilization but do lead to persistent reductions in labor supply. Extended waits raise medium- to long-term work absences and permanent disability receipt, with effects concentrated among individuals already on sick leave at referral. The findings are consistent with state dependence, where prolonged periods of temporary disability while awaiting treatment create lasting barriers to returning to work. The study highlights the broader economic and social costs of hospital queues, underscoring the importance of timely access to health care. Long waits for health care raise concerns about the consequences of delayed treatment. We use variation in queue congestion to estimate effects of wait time for orthopedic surgery. We do not find that longer wait times lead to increased health care utilization. However, we do find persistent reductions in labor supply: long waits increase medium to long-term work absences and permanent disability receipt. Effects are driven by individuals who are on sick leave at referral. Our results are consistent with patterns of state dependence, where extended periods of temporary disability while awaiting treatment create persistent barriers to returning to work.- Reproduced https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pol.20210399
650			_aPublic Health, Hospital Queues, Wait Times, Orthopedic Surgery, Patient Health, Labor Supply, Work Absences, Permanent Disability, State Dependence, Health Economics, Labor Studies, Delayed Treatment _958942
773			_aAmerican Economic Journal: Economic Policy
906			_aPUBLIC HEALTH
942			_cAR