Prenatal screening tests can identify genetic disorders in a fetus, but their take-up remains low in several countries. Using a Regression Discontinuity Design, we test the causal effects of a policy that eliminated co-payments for noninvasive prenatal screening tests in Italy. We find that the policy increases the probability of pregnant women’s undergoing prenatal tests by 7 to 10 percentage points, and the effect varies by socioeconomic status. We do not find evidence of substitution effects with invasive tests or that the tests affect the termination of a pregnancy and newborn health. We do find evidence of positive effects on mothers’ health behaviors during pregnancy.

The Effect of Co-Payments on the Take-Up of Prenatal Tests

Marina DI GIACOMO;
2020-01-01

Abstract

Prenatal screening tests can identify genetic disorders in a fetus, but their take-up remains low in several countries. Using a Regression Discontinuity Design, we test the causal effects of a policy that eliminated co-payments for noninvasive prenatal screening tests in Italy. We find that the policy increases the probability of pregnant women’s undergoing prenatal tests by 7 to 10 percentage points, and the effect varies by socioeconomic status. We do not find evidence of substitution effects with invasive tests or that the tests affect the termination of a pregnancy and newborn health. We do find evidence of positive effects on mothers’ health behaviors during pregnancy.
2020
Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers
20/19
1
54
https://www.york.ac.uk/media/economics/documents/hedg/workingpapers/2020/2019.pdf
https://ideas.repec.org/p/yor/hectdg/20-19.html
Prenatal tests, Co-payments, Maternal and newborn health, Regression Discontinuity Design
Marina DI GIACOMO, Massimiliano PIACENZA, Luigi SICILIANI, Gilberto TURATI
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1763423
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