title: A low-key social insurance reform--effects of multidisciplinary outpatient treatment for back pain patients in Norway.
abstract: This paper estimates treatment effects for back pain patients using observational data from a low-key social insurance reform in Norway. Using a latent variable model, we estimate the average treatment effect (ATE), the average effect of treatment on the treated (TT), and the distribution of treatment effects for multidisciplinary outpatient treatment at three different locations. To estimate these treatment effects, we use a discrete-choice model with unobservables generated by a factor structure model. Distance to the nearest hospital (in kilometres) is used as an instrument in estimating the different treatment effects. We find a positive effect of treatment of around 6 percentage points on the probability of leaving the sickness benefits scheme after allowing for selection effects and full heterogeneity in treatment effects. We also find that there are sound arguments for expanding the multidisciplinary outpatient programme for treating back pain patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, University of Bergen, Fosswinckelsg 6, N-5007 Bergen, Norway. arild.aakvik@econ.uib.no
authors.forename: Arild
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aakvik
authors.forename: Tor Helge
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Holmås
authors.forename: Egil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kjerstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009664:Norway; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics*