Medical Economics October 22, 2020
Several trends have disrupted the traditional model of physician-owned practices
According to the AMA, employed physicians now outnumber private practice physicians for the first time. Does this mean private practice physicians will eventually be the rare exception rather than the rule? Is there still a significant role for physician-owned private practices? Relatedly, as hospitals consolidate to fight off the accelerating trend towards outpatient care, which is increasingly being controlled by health insurers (e.g., Optum, which directly or indirectly employs tens-of-thousands of physicians), might hospital-physician relationships be the life vest that the two most critical parties to the healthcare system need?
Several trends have disrupted the traditional model of physician-owned practices: increasing complexity in payment systems including the proliferation of value-based...