Background: Mendelian Randomization is a type of instrumental variable (IV) analysis that uses inherited genetic variants as instruments to estimate causal effects attributable to genetic factors. This study aims to estimate the impact of obesity on annual inpatient healthcare costs in the UK...

U.S. health system performance : an international perspective -- Is profit-seeking inappropriate in health care? -- Competition in hospital markets : the case of specialty hospitals -- Competition in health insurance markets : the case of managed care reform -- Competition in pharmaceutical...

Physician ownership of in-office ancillary services (IOASs) has come under increasing scrutiny. Advocates of argue that IOASs allow physicians to supervise the quality and coordination of care. Critics have argued that IOASs create financial incentives for physicians to increase ancillary...

Background: Concerns have been raised about physician ownership of onsite advanced imaging equipment as allowed under Stark laws by the in-office ancillary service exception (IOASE). Methods: A web-based survey of orthopedic practices in the United States was used to assign a first date of...