Assessing the Effects of Important Factors and Province Heterogeneity on Different Quantiles of Hospitalization Cost

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of some covariates on different quantiles of the cost of hospitalization. The effect of the province that the individual belongs to on these quantiles will be also examined. Methods: We employed a linear quantile-mixed model (LQMM) for analyzing the cost of hospitalization in Iranians Utilization of Health Services (IUHS) survey considering the province effect, the effects of some important covariates, and also the effect of the choice of the random-effects distribution. For this, both classical and Bayesian approaches are used for parameter estimation. Results: The results of data analysis show that ward, type of hospital, and duration of hospitalization are significant factors on quantiles of the cost of hospitalization, of course with different impacts on different quantiles. Our findings reveal significant discrepancies in the cost of hospitalization in different provinces and significant heterogeneity among provinces. Conclusion: More works must be done related to hospitalization cost and its consequences since it is a matter of social life. To be exact, one should notice that provinces with hospitals involving high hospitalization costs may have households dealing with poverty.