@TechReport{iza:izadps:dp15987,
            	author={Fischer, Stefanie and Royer, Heather and White, Corey},
            	title={Health Care Centralization: The Health Impacts of Obstetric Unit Closures in the US},
            	year={2023},
	month={Mar},
            	institution={Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)},
            	address={Bonn},
            	type={IZA Discussion Paper},
            	number={15987},
            	url={https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp15987},
	abstract={Over the last few decades, health care services in the United States have become more geographically centralized. We study how the loss of hospital-based obstetric units in over 400 counties affect maternal and infant health via a difference-in-differences design. We find that closures lead mothers to experience a significant change in birth procedures such as inductions and C-sections. In contrast to concerns voiced in the public discourse, the effects on a range of maternal and infant health outcomes are negligible or slightly beneficial. While women travel farther to receive care, closures induce women to receive higher quality care.
},
	keywords={maternity ward;maternal health;infant health;closure;obstetric;hospital quality},
            }