Guest commentary: Independent doctors threatened in U.S.?
March 2, 2022
By Sally C. Pipes
Facing declining revenue prospects, physicians are shuttering their private, independent practices to join up with larger hospitals that have near-monopolies on care in the regions they serve.
This trend is depressing news for Americans. Further concentration of market power in these health systems ultimately results in less personalized care for patients – and higher overall costs.
Over the past 20 years, Medicare physician pay has increased 11%. The overhead costs of operating an independent medical practice, on the other hand, has jumped nearly 40%.
Factoring in i...
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