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The Risks and Benefits of Physician Practice Acquisition and Consolidation: A Narrative Review of Peer-Reviewed Publications Between 2009 and 2022 in the United States

  • 0Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare +

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May 20, 2024

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May 20, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Physician practice acquisition and consolidation in the US is rising, impacting care and economics. Key risks include reduced autonomy and higher costs, while benefits involve practice stability and better resource access.

Area Of Science

  • Healthcare Economics
  • Physician Practice Management
  • Health Services Research

Background

  • Physician practice acquisition and consolidation is a significant trend in the United States healthcare landscape.
  • This trend impacts patient care, service quality, healthcare economics, and physicians' daily work.
  • Understanding the drivers and effects of these transactions is crucial as practices are acquired by various entities.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To conduct a narrative review of current literature on physician practice acquisition and consolidation in the US.
  • To identify and analyze the risks and benefits associated with this growing trend.
  • To synthesize existing research on the forces driving these market changes.

Main Methods

  • A narrative review of peer-reviewed publications from 2009 to 2022.
  • Searches were conducted in SCOPUS, Medline-PUBMED, and Web of Science databases.
  • Keywords used included "physician" and "practice" combined with "acquisition" or "consolidation".

Main Results

  • Literature indicates an increase in the number of physicians alongside a decrease in the number of individual practices.
  • Private equity-driven acquisitions are accelerating, and vertical integration often leads to geographic consolidation.
  • Identified risks include diminished physician autonomy and increased healthcare costs.

Conclusions

  • Benefits of physician practice consolidation include enhanced practice stability, improved negotiation power with insurers, and greater access to resources.
  • The trend presents a complex interplay of risks and benefits that warrant continued examination.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the long-term implications for healthcare delivery and economics.

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