Many physicians are going to work at large physician practices and hospitals, though it’s up for debate whether that’s due to the Affordable Care Act, the electronic health record or payers’ narrow networks and value-based care arrangements, reports Crain's Detroit Business.
"Most physicians want to see patients," Mike Williams, M.D., CEO of one of Michigan’s largest physician organizations, told the news site. "Unfortunately, many physicians try to run their practice on the side. None of us in one- to three-member practices can survive doing that. It is why some of us have moved to larger groups."
Williams’ large physician practice has grown through merging with other practices and plans to hire at least 200 physicians, he told Crain's. Two benefits of these mergers: shared expenses for human resources, information technology and billing, and a measure of physician autonomy.
Likewise, hiring at Detroit’s Henry Ford Medical Group has “never been stronger,” according to CEO William Conway, M.D. Payers’ narrow networks and performance-based contracts requiring doctors to provide quality data in return for bonus payments are causing doctors’ to embrace larger physician groups, he added.
Bucking this trend, some independent-minded physicians are joining direct primary care organizations, which deliver care to patients for a monthly fee and don’t accept insurance, reports the publication.
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