Compensation models and issues for a multispecialty group practice

The methodology employed by a multispecialty group practice to compensate its physicians must complement the group's financial, strategic, programmatic, and operational objectives. Furthermore, the compensation plan must foster the group's corporate philosophy. This article presents several specific compensation models employed by multispecialty group practices and reviews the key implications associated with each model. Among the implications addressed are those associated with the shift to capitated payments, individual and groupwide objectives, the portion of compensation placed at risk, and the implications of the group practice joining an integrated delivery system.