RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Do Altruistic Mental Health Care Providers Have Better Treatment Outcomes?
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 310
OP 341
DO 10.3368/jhr.54.2.0716.8070R1
VO 54
IS 2
A1 Rudy Douven
A1 Minke Remmerswaal
A1 Robin Zoutenbier
YR 2019
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/54/2/310.abstract
AB We study heterogeneity in provider altruism among self-employed mental health care providers in the Netherlands. Using a large administrative data set, we exploit the discontinuities in the compensation scheme to separate altruistically motivated providers from financially motivated providers. We find strong heterogeneity in provider altruism. Moreover, we find that more altruistically motivated providers treat mental health patients for shorter durations and report better treatment outcomes, as measured by the improvement in Global Assessment of Functioning. These results suggest that provider altruism is positively related to treatment outcomes.