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To examine the relationship of availability and quality of a usual source of care (USC) to medical expenditures overall and for various types of health care services for children with special health care needs (CSHCN), as a group and by four diagnostic subgroups (asthma, non-asthmatic physical conditions, mental retardation, other mental illnesses). Generalized linear models were used to estimate the annual average per capita medical expenditures (APCME) based on data from 820 CSHCN in the 1995 National Health Interview Survey on Disability and 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. In 1996, 92% of non-institutionalized CSHCN in the United States had a USC. Of these, 52% were classified as receiving accessible care, 95% received comprehensive care, and 69% received satisfactory care. Approximately 89% of CSHCN had expenditures on health care in 1996 and the APCME was $1,344 for CSHCN as a group. Having a USC was associated with higher expenditures overall and for almost all types of health care services for CSHCN across conditions. Receiving comprehensive care was associated with lower total medical expenditures for CSHCN with asthma, whereas receiving satisfactory care was associated with higher total medical expenditures for CSHCN with non-asthma physical conditions. Having a regular care provider is associated with higher expenditures for CSHCN across diagnosis. Among CSHCN with a USC, quality of care is associated with medical expenditures, although specific associations vary by the quality characteristic and the condition of the child. These results may mask heterogeneity in severity of condition and quality of care over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The holiday effect phenomenon has been studied in industry sectors such as securities, retail, and so on. Literature is devoid of a purposeful study specific to the hospitality industry that evaluates the economic impact of holidays on the hotel industry. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of holidays on hotel daily revenue. Using daily occupancy data of the U.S. lodging industry between January 2000 and February 2004, the study found a significant holiday effect prevalent in the hotel industry. Findings indicate that individual effects of holidays on hotel daily revenue differ significantly from one to another In addition, some holidays have differential impacts depending on the day of the week on which they fall. Findings can be used to develop more targeted strategies by the lodging industry as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]