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. 1997 Nov;45(10):1537-9.
doi: 10.1016/s0277-9536(97)00090-7.

Unintended effects of a cost-containment policy: results of a natural experiment in Germany

O Schöffski  1 , J M Graf von der Schulenburg
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Unintended effects of a cost-containment policy: results of a natural experiment in Germany

O Schöffski et al. Soc Sci Med. 1997 Nov.

Abstract

In this paper empirical evidence for substitution processes caused by the budget for drugs prescribed by office-based physicians is provided. Due to substitution processes in a natural experiment the number of referrals and hospital admissions increased significantly after the introduction of a drug budget in Germany. This leads to additional direct and indirect cost for the health care system.

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