Physicians Advocacy Institute
PAI submitted a comment letter outlining the effects of health care consolidation on physician practice and patient care quality to the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services in June 2024. Kelly Kenney, CEO of PAI, discussed the letter and other PAI research into health care consolidation in an interview with Medical Economics.
Learn more about:
This report garnered significant media attention, with the study findings and/or PAI spokespeople cited in the following news stories:
Updated: March 2019
Healthcare Dive: Physician Practices Not Flocking To CPC+
Healthcare Finance: 2018 MACRA Rule Continues Pick-Your-Pace, Will Exempt Even More Clinicians (Updated)
Modern Healthcare: CMS Looks To Study MIPS Burdens On Clinicians
Modern Healthcare: Physician Practices Skip Round Two Of Primary-Care Payment Model
Advisory Board: The Highest-Paid Doctors, Charted
American Antitrust Institute: Consolidation In Provider And Insurer Markets: Enforcement Issues And Priorities
American Journal of Managed Care: Hospital Acquisition Of Independent Physician Practices Continues To Increase
American Journal of Managed Care: This Week In Managed Care: March 23, 2018
Anesthesia Experts: No Slowdown In Consolidation Trend: Hospitals Acquire 5,000 Independent Practices In 1 Year
BDC Advisors: Building A Magnet Physician Enterprise: A Critical Health System Priority In The Value Market
Becker’s ASC Review: Health Systems Acquire 5K Independent Practices During 2015-16
Becker’s Hospital Review: Hospitals Employed 42% Of Physicians In 2016: 5 Study Findings
Benchmark International: A Healthy Pipeline Of Deals: M&A Transactions In The Healthcare Industry
Chicago Medicine: Feel Like Selling Your Practice? You’re Not Alone
Connecticut Medicine: Keep The Science, Eliminate The Burden
Crain’s Health Pulse Extra: March 22, 2018
Dark Daily: First Time Ever: Less Than Half Of All Healthcare Practices In America Are Physician Owned—Are Doctors Giving Up Their Independence And Will Independent Clinical Laboratories Lose Test Orders To Hospital Labs?
Dark Daily: Unitedhealth Group Soon To Be Largest Employer Of Doctors In The US; Clinical Laboratory Outreach More Critical Than Ever Before
Darwin Research Group: Physicians Increasingly Employed By Health Systems
Financial Management Conference & Expo
Fierce Healthcare: Hospitals Are Buying Up Physician Practices At A Record Pace
Fierce Healthcare: No Slowdown In Consolidation Trend: Hospitals Acquire 5,000 Independent Practices In 1 Year
Forbes: Humana Rebrands Clinics Amid Doctor Buyout Wave
Groupdentistrynow.Com: Changing Demographics And Economics Are Leading To A Seismic Shift In How Dental Practices Operate, As Fewer Dentists Run Their Own Business
Healthcare Dive: Hospitals Acquired 5K Physician Practices In 1-Year Period
Healthcare Growth Partners: EMR Consolidation – The Haves And The Have-Nots
Healthcare Weekly: Caring For Patients Outside Hospitals – A Healthcare Network In Illinois Is Getting A Makeover
Lancasteronline: Lancaster Neuroscience & Spine Associates Will Join Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health
Lancasteronline: Lancaster Physicians For Women Joins Lancaster General Health Physicians
Lancasteronline: Leola Family Health Center Joins Lancaster General Health Physicians
LUGPA: Site Neutral Payments: Leveling The Playing Field Between Independent Practices And Hospitals
LVB.Com: As Networks Gobble Up Practices, Independent Doctors Fight To Survive
Managed Care: Hospital Ownership Of Doc Practices Continues To Grow
Medscape: Analysis Shows Hospital Ownership Of Physician Practices Growing Rapidly
Modern Healthcare: As Independent Doc Groups Dwindle, Wilmington Health Bucks The Trend
Modern Healthcare: Rapid Rise In Hospital-Employed Physicians Increases Costs (Also appears in: Shield HealthCare)
Modern Health: Physician Pay Increases May Be Slowing (Also appears in: North Coast Association of Health Underwriters)
Newsday: Economics, Demographics Lead Fewer LI Dentists To Own Their Businesses
News & Observer: Raleigh Pediatric Practice Joins UNC Health’s Network. That’s Bad News For Some Families
Nuemd: As More Hospitals Buy Practices, Now Might Be A Good Time To Sell
Revcycle Intelligence: Healthcare Mergers, Increased Access To Boost Medical Costs 6%
Revcycle Intelligence: How Hospital Merger And Acquisition Activity Is Changing Healthcare
Sg2: Hospitals Continue Acquiring Physician Practices At Rapid Pace
Twin Cities Business: Hospital Appetite For Physician Practices Is Waning
Voter Voice: PAI-Avalere Health Release Updated Research Showing Continued Trend In Hospital Employment Of Physicians
WFAE All Things Considered: Doctors Leaving Atrium Buck The National Trend Of Groups Joining Hospitals (Also appears in: HenryKotula.com)
Authentic Medicine: Hospital Employed Physicians Increase Costs?
Becker’s ASC Review: Colonoscopies In Hopds Cost Medicare 164% More Than Physician-Owned Offices (Also appears in: MTI)
Becker’s Hospital Review: 49% Increase In Hospital-Employed Physicians Linked To $3.1B In Medicare Costs, Study Finds
Best Unimed: Check Out The Top Ten News Events Of The 2016 China Doctor Group! (Translation courtesy: Google Translate)
Capsules QW: Member News & Information
Careline: Hospital-Employed Physicians Drain Medicare (Also appears in: Free Republic)
The Charlotte Observer: As Nearly 100 Doctors Abandon Atrium Health, Some Experts See The Start Of A Trend
Colorado Medical Society: Physician Payment
Digestive Health Physicians Association: Comments To RIN 0991-ZA49
Erdman: The Future Of Demand For Hospitals: A Strategic Perspective
Health Law Handbook (Pre Publication Draft): Lessons Learned From Leasing: A Blueprint For Hospital-Physician Alignment
Healthcare Dive: Hospital-Employed Physicians Create More Medicare Costs
Healthcare Purchasing News: Study Says Medicare Paid More For HOPD Versus Independent Physicians Offices For 4 Procedures
Illinois Cancer Specialists: Letter To Congressman Peter Roskam
Lehigh Valley Live: Blue Mountain-St. Luke's Merger Will Drive Up Costs
Medical Association of Georgia Journal: Healthcare Delivery Consolidation: What It Means For Physicians
Medpage Today: Hospital Consolidation Drives Up Medicare Costs, Study Finds
Medscape: Hospital-Employed Physicians Cost Medicaid More, Study Says (Also appears in: Denmark.ibuzzworld.com)
Modern Healthcare: Hospital-Employed Physicians Drain Medicare (Also appears in: Mother Health Care)
Modern Healthcare: Physicians Decry Consequences Of Consolidation
Modern Healthcare: Reigniting The Physicians Arms Race, Insurers Are Buying Practices
New York State Hamaspik Association: More Medicare Costs Created By Hospital-Employed Physicians
Newsday: Dental Group To Acquire 3 More Independent Practices On LI
Northeast Indiana Citizens For Healthcare Excellence: Hospital-Employed Physicians Drain Medicare
Orlando Medical News: Time For The Florida Senate To Deliver Surgical Savings To Floridians
Patient Daily: Rising Number Of Doctors Employed By Hospitals Leading To Higher Medicare Costs, Study Shows
Physicians News Network: Study: Growing Number Of Employed Physicians Driving Higher Medicare Costs (Also appears in: Partners for Truth in Health Care, Ambulatory Surgery Center Association)
Practicing Physicians of America: Saving America From The Four Horsemen Of Health Care
Psychu: Health System/Insurer Combos Gain Steam—& More To Come With ACO Changes
Psychu: U.S. National Health Spending Grew At A Rate Of 3.9% In 2017
Revcycle Intelligence: Hospitals Acquired 5K Independent Practices From 2015 To 2016
Revcycle Intelligence: Medicare Spends $3.1B More On Hospital-Employed Physicians
South African Medical Association: In Respect Of The HMI Provisional Report (5 July 2018)
Stopcoloncancernow.Com: Ascs Offer Significant Savings For Colonoscopies
The Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform: Physicians Advocacy Institute: Implications Of Hospital Employment Of Physicians On Medicare & Beneficiaries
The U.S. Oncology Network Health Policy Report: Physicians Advocacy Institute Study Examines Hospital Employment of Physicians
ValueBasedCare360.com: Report: Physician Employment by Hospitals Costs Billions
Advance Healthcare Network: Hospital Ownership of Physician Practices Increases
American Hospital Association Resource Center Blog: Physician Practice Acquisition And Employment Trends
American Journal of Managed Care: Physician Practices In Rural Areas Being Acquired By Hospitals At Dramatic Rate (Also appears in: Community Oncology Alliance)
Becker’s Hospital Review: Hospital Ownership Of Physician Practices Up 86% (Also appears in H2R Minutes)
Becker’s Hospital Review: Your Hospital's Medical Staff Bylaws May Be Creating Undue Medical Staff Burden — Here's Why
California Association of Neurological Surgeons: Hospital Ownership Of Medical Practices Balloons
CN Healthcare: US Hospital Acquires 31,000 Physicians Group in 3 Years (Translation courtesy: Google Translate)
Concierge Medicine Today: Hospital Ownership Of Medical Practices Grows By 86% In Three Years
Corporate Finance Associates: Healthcare M&A
DAS Health: Patients Pay The Price When Hospital Giants Hire Your Private Practitioner
Diagnostic Imaging Services: Hospital Employment Of Doctors Rising Rapidly (Also appears in: Harlee Medical Technologies Inc.)
Digestive Physicians Health Association: Testimony of Dr. Michael Weinstein
Fierce Healthcare: 1 In 4 Practices Now Hospital-Owned (Also appears in: Medical Practice Improvement News)
FMG Leading: Turning Great Doctors Into Great Leaders
Forbes: Surprise Medical Bills: A Growing Problem Requiring Price Transparency
Global 1: Study: Growing Number Of Employed Physicians Driving Higher Medicare Costs
Hartford Business: Study: Hospital Ownership Of Physician Practices Rises 86% In Three Years
Hcpro: Provider-Based Entities: A Guide To Regulatory And Billing Compliance, Second Edition
Health System Management: Hospital Ownership Of Physician Practices Increases
Healthcare Dive: AMA: Share Of Doctor-Owned Practices Drops Below 50%
Healthcare Dive: Jonathan Bush On Athenahealth's Next Steps – And Why Doctors Should Get On Board
Healthcare Dive: Surge In Hospital-Owned Physician Practices Poised To Increase Healthcare Costs
Healthcare Finance: Gallery: Percentage Of Hospital-Employed Physicians On The Rise; Many Leaving Private Practices
Healthexec: Hospitals Now Own 1 In 4 Physician Practices (Also appears in: The Hospital Leader)
HealthLeaders: Number Of Hospital-employed Physicians Up 50% Since 2012
Healthlink Dimensions: More Doctors Are Becoming Employees: How Marketers Can Adapt
Independent Institute: Doctors Leaving Private Practice for Hospitals
Kaiser Health News: Guess Who Pays The Price When Hospital Giants Hire Your Private Practitioner? (Also appears in: Chicago Tribune, CNN, MedCity News, Cambridge Management Group, Louisiana Health Insurance Exchange)
Liberty Blitzkrieg: Student Loans And Healthcare – Two Issues That Will Define American Politics Going Forward
LinkedIn: Physician Practice Acquisitions
Los Angeles Times: Patients Pay The Price When Hospital Giants Buy Up Independent Doctor Practices
Lund Report: Hospital Ownership Of Physician Practices Increases Nearly 90 Percent In Three Years
Market Watch: This Increasingly Common Hidden Fee Is A Nasty Surprise On Medical Bills
Mckesson: The Business Of Health Care November 2016
Md Edge: Growth In Hospital-Employed Physicians Shows No Signs Of Slowing
Md News: Weight A Barrier To Thorough Medical Care?
Medical Economics: Hospital Ownership Of Physician Practices On The Rise
Medical Society Of The District Of Columbia: Hospital Ownership Of Physician Practices Increases Nearly 90% In 3 Years
Medscape: Hospital Employment Of Doctors Rising Rapidly
Minnesota Hospital Association: Session #14: Understanding The Differences Of A County, City Or District Hospital
Modern Healthcare: Hospital Ownership Of Medical Practices Grows By 86% In Three Years (Also appears in: GZHPHB, Kaiser Health News, Medicalexecutivepost.com)
Morning Call: Study Shows Hospitals Are Gobbling Up Doctors’ Offices
Newsday: Allied Physicians Group Names Kerry Frommer Fierstein CEO
Newsday: Doctor Dilemma: Independence Or Health System
North Bay Business Journal: Private-Practice Physicians Shift To Groups As Health Care Administrative Burdens Rise
OEIS Fourth Annual National Scientific Meeting: Value-Based Vascular Care: What’s It Gonna Take?
Peoplesolutions: Hospitals Employing Higher Number Of Doctors As Acquisition Of Practices Grows
Phoenix Business Journal: Arizona Hospitals Are Gobbling Up Physician Practices At Rapid Rate
Phrma: 340B Spotlight: Trends In Shifting Site Of Care
PONDER: HFMA Midsouth Institute: Mergers & Acquisitions: What To Expect
Read01.com: Doctors’ Group Changes To Medical Groups, Synchronizing Trends In China And The United States (Translation courtesy: Google Translate)
Renal & Urology News: To Divest Or Not To Divest Your Physician Practice?
Report on Medicare Compliance: OPPS Rule: Provider-Based Space May Bill For New Services; CMS Offers New Method
Revcycle Intelligence: Doctors To HHS: Level The Playing Field For Independent Practices
S&P Global: Hospital Clinics Could Face Payment Cuts Under Trump Drug Plan
Staff Care: 6 Trends Affecting Physician Jobs: Where Will You Work?
Texas Medical Association: Is Congress Doing Enough To Protect Physician Practices
The Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform: Physician Practice Acquisition Study: National And Regional Employment Changes, September 2016
Tian Jian: Doctors Group Changes To Medical Group, Simultaneous Sino-U.S. Trends (Translation courtesy: Google Translate)
U.S. Health Policy Gateway: Changes In Physician Practice Models
Valuing Professional Practices And Licenses
Wolters Kluwer: Hospital-Owned Physician Practices Continue To Grow, But Integration Has Issues
American Council on Science and Health: Location, Location, Location
Appraisal Economics: The Valuation Of Medical Practices
CNBC: There Are Better Prices For Health Care—Know Where To Look
Community Oncology Alliance: POHMS Spring Conference Presentation
Community Oncology Alliance: The Cost Drivers Of Cancer Care
Digestive Health Network, Inc.: Comprehensive Colonoscopy Advanced Alternative Payment Model For Colorectal Cancer Screening, Diagnosis And Surveillance
Health Leaders Media: Medicare Payments Higher At Hopds Than Ascs, Doc Officers
Healthcare Dive: Study Challenges Medicare Payment Differential For Outpatient Settings
Hill: Savings To Medicare At Stake As ‘Site Neutral’ Discussions Continue
Hill: Unequal Medicare Payments Fuel Health Care Consolidation Trends
Journal Of Health Care Finance: Site-Neutrality Among Medical Payments Can Foster Site-Specificity Among Medical Procedures
Market Watch: Price Your Colonoscopy Like You Would A TV
Medical Association of Georgia: Update
Medical Society Of New Jersey: Physician Practice Based Services Less Costly Than Hospital Outpatient Department
Medical Society, State of New York: Email
Medically Sound: Hospitals Own More Physician Practices
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Hospital Outpatient Versus Physician Office Cost For Physician Administered Cancer Drugs
Modern Healthcare: Blog: Doctors Say Medicare Pays Three Times More For Care At Hospital Outpatient Departments (Also appears in: Stone Hill National)
North Carolina Medical Journal: A Sea Change In Medicine: Current Shifts In The Delivery And Payment Of Medical Care
North Carolina Medical Society: PAI Report Outlines Payment Differentials Across Outpatient Settings
Overcharged: Why Americans Pay Too Much for Health Care
Texas Medical Association: PAI Backs Medicare Move Toward Site-Neutral Payments
The Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform: Medicare Payment Differentials Across Outpatient Settings Of Care, Avalere, February 2016
Wolf Street: How Opaque Healthcare Pricing Mechanisms Rip Off Consumers (Also appears in: Global Glass Onion)
Zhuanlan: When Chinese Doctors Are Rebellious As Children, American Doctors Are Turning Their Backs (Also appears in: GetIt01.com, ifun01.com) (Translation courtesy: Google Translate)
