Document Type
Working Paper
Publication Date
2019
College/Unit
Regional Research Institute
Document Number
Working Paper Number 2019-02
Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between episodes of contaminated drinking water and health care expenditures in the United States. The analysis relies on panel data from the 48 contiguous states from 2000 to 2011. We use the population served by public water systems that violate health-based standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act as a proxy for contaminated drinking water. We estimate spatial and non-spatial models and control for factors that may affect per capita health care expenditures including variables that reflect air quality violations along with ability to pay plus demand for and supply of health care services. The results from a Spatial Durbin Model indicate that a 1% decrease in the percentage of population exposed to drinking water quality violations is associated with reductions in in-state and regional effects equal to 0.005% ($0.32) and 0.035% ($2.26) of per capita health care expenditures, respectively. Drinking water violations have a larger impact on expenditures than air quality violations (whose effects are not statistically different from zero). However, compared to other factors, such as Medicare enrollment and income, the impact of these violations on health care expenditures is relatively small. We find that regional health care expenditure impacts from drinking water violations are substantially greater than in-state impacts. Thus, a regional approach is recommended to addressing drinking water quality improvements.
Digital Commons Citation
Alzahrani, Fahad; Collins, Alan R.; and Erfanian, Elham, "Drinking Water Quality Impacts on Health Care Expenditures in the United States" (2019). Regional Research Institute Working Papers. 193.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/rri_pubs/193
Comments
For the published version of this paper, see:
Alzahrani, F., Collins, A. R., & Erfanian, E. (2020). Drinking water quality impacts on health care expenditures in the United States. Water Resources and Economics, 32, 100162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wre.2020.100162