Physician Consolidation: Rapid Movement From Small To Large Group Practices, 2013-15

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Health Affairs published a DataWatch paper entitled "Physician Consolidation: Rapid Movement From Small To Large Group Practices, 2013–15," which observes the difference in consolidation patterns between specialists and primary care physicians, as well as between states.

Leavitt Partners used data from Medicare Physician Compare to longitudinally examine the change in the proportion of U.S. physicians moving from smaller to larger group practices. During this time period, there was a marked increase in the proportion of physicians working in large group practices (100 or more physicians), and a reduction in the proportion working in small group practices (9 or fewer). These trends were especially pronounced among primary care physicians compared to specialists. The data also showed significant variation between the states relative to the change in the proportions of physicians in the small and large groups.

Key takeaways:

• While small group practices still account for a large proportion of all physician practices, there is significant trend of consolidation into large group practices.
• Changes among primary care physicians (specialty of family practice, general practice, geriatric medicine, internal medicine, or pediatric medicine) were significantly greater compared to specialist physicians.
• Marked variation in the rate of change between states suggests that any continuing trends are likely to vary between different states.

The abstract can be viewed here.

About Leavitt Partners
Leavitt Partners is a health care intelligence business. The firm delivers collaborative, high-value intelligence that helps clients transition to new models of care. Through its member-based collaboration called Health Intelligence Partners™ and direct services to clients, the consulting firm provides the best available window to the future of American health care. For more information visit LeavittPartners.com or call (801) 538-5082.

SOURCE Leavitt Partners

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