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Differences between family physicians' and general internists' medical charges
K D Bertakis1, L J Helms, R Azari
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento 95817, USA. kdbertakis@ucdavis.edu
Medical Care
|July 21, 1999
Summary
Family physicians generated lower medical charges than general internists, primarily due to fewer emergency room visits. This study compared healthcare resource utilization and costs between family practice and internal medicine.
Area of Science:
- Primary Care Medicine
- Health Services Research
- Healthcare Economics
Background:
- Primary care physicians (PCPs) play a crucial role in managing patient care and healthcare costs.
- Differences in practice styles between family physicians and general internists may influence resource utilization and associated medical charges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether practice style variations between family physicians and general internists lead to differential healthcare resource utilization.
- To determine if these practice style differences result in varying medical charges for primary care patients.
Main Methods:
- A prospective randomized study involving 509 primary care patients.
- Patients were assigned to either family physicians or general internists for one year of care.
- Healthcare service utilization and associated charges were systematically monitored.
Main Results:
- Family practice patients had more primary care visits but fewer emergency room visits compared to internal medicine patients.
- Mean charges for primary care and emergency department services were significantly lower in the family practice group.
- No significant differences in charges were observed for specialty care, hospitalizations, or diagnostic services.
Conclusions:
- Practice styles of family physicians and general internists are associated with differential medical charges.
- Family physicians tend to generate lower overall medical charges for certain aspects of patient care compared to general internists.