Market Strategies International Reports: Most Physicians Say Health Care Reform Will Negatively Impact Their Financial Outlook and Patient Care

LIVONIA, Mich., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Most physicians anticipate a worsened financial outlook for themselves and negative consequences for patient care as a result of Health Care Reform in the U.S. This is according to a recent study of 600 physicians conducted by research consultancy Market Strategies International. 

Key findings include:

• Six in ten pediatricians and seven in ten primary care physicians (PCPs) anticipate a decline in the number of physicians in practice as a result of Health Care Reform.
• Fewer PCPs and specialists expect to be accepting Medicare and Medicaid patients after 2014.
• 80 percent of PCPs report that their patients are concerned that they will be negatively impacted by Health Care Reform.
• Although the majority of physicians are unfamiliar with Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), most indicate that a group of physicians would be most successful at running one.

"Despite self-stated low levels of understanding of the specific provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, our study makes it clear that a majority of primary care physicians, pediatricians and specialists are pessimistic about the impact that certain elements of Health Care Reform will have on their practices and its ability to help them meet or improve the care needs of their patients," said Susan McIntyre, senior vice president of the healthcare division at Market Strategies.

She also noted that, despite their negative attitudes about many aspects of Health Care Reform, more than eight in ten PCPs and pediatricians say there are good parts of reform that should remain in place.

Market Strategies International's Health Care Reform 360 study is a multi-dimensional, multi-phased research program that illuminates health care reform attitudes, awareness, perceptions and behaviors among multiple health care stakeholder groups. For this study, Market Strategies conducted a Web survey between August 3 and August 11, 2011 using the World One Web panel with a national sample of 600 PCPs, pediatricians and specialists including endocrinologists, oncologists and orthopedists. Qualified respondents were board certified and involved in direct patient care at least 25% of their time per week. The sample was stratified by physician type (PCPs, pediatricians and specialists) and data were weighted to AMA physician counts within specialty, primary practice setting and years in practice, as provided in the Redi-Med Data Medical Database. Due to its opt-in nature, this online panel (like most others) does not yield a random probability sample of the target population. As such, it is not possible to compute a margin of error or to statistically quantify the accuracy of projections. Market Strategies will supply the exact wording of all survey questions upon request.

Market Strategies International is a market research consultancy with deep expertise in the communications, energy, financial services, healthcare and technology industries. The firm designs and implements intelligent research and delivers meaningful results that help companies make business decisions with confidence. Founded in 1989, Market Strategies consistently ranks as one of the 25 largest global market research firms, according to an annual report published in Marketing News.

Contact Susan McIntyre at 503-416-8515 or [email protected] for more information.

SOURCE Market Strategies International