title: Trends in geographic disparities in allocation of health care resources in the US.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine current level and historical trends in health resources distribution in the US; to investigate the relationships between both levels and trends of inequality with--geographic location, inequality of income and rates per capita of hospital-beds and physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Gini Coefficient was used to measure variations in distribution of physicians and hospital-beds (at the county level) during three decades.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physician distribution has become less equitable, while hospital-beds' equity has increased. physicians' distribution exhibited a geographic trend, becoming more equitable in the West. No association was found between equality in hospital-beds' distribution and rates of hospital-beds per capita.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rates per capita might not be sufficient in determining availability of resources. Further research is needed to determine implications for health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Tuvia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horev
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pesis-Katz
authors.forename: Dana B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Mukamel
mesh_terms: D001513:Beds; D005843:Geography; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000639:trends*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D012935:Social Justice; D014481:United States