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Private Equity Acquisition in Primary Care and Avoidable Hospitalizations.
Meehir N Dixit1,2, Alexander P Philips1,3, Amal N Trivedi1
1Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island.
JAMA Health Forum
|May 8, 2026
Summary
Private equity acquisitions in primary care did not significantly alter patient outcomes like hospitalizations or emergency visits in the short term. Patient demographics also remained unchanged after these investments.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Healthcare Management
- Primary Care Research
Background:
- Private equity (PE) investment in primary care has surged, raising concerns about potential negative impacts on care quality and patient outcomes.
- Over 2400 primary care physicians have become PE-affiliated since 2019, highlighting the growing trend.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in patient outcomes for traditional Medicare beneficiaries following primary care practice acquisitions by PE firms.
- To identify any shifts in patient composition after PE acquisition.
Main Methods:
- A stacked difference-in-differences analysis was conducted using a 20% Medicare Part B sample from 2016 to 2022.
- Medicare beneficiaries with PE-acquired physicians were matched to control patients based on demographics and health status.
- Primary outcomes included all-cause hospitalizations, potentially avoidable hospitalizations, and emergency department visits.
Main Results:
- No significant changes were observed in potentially preventable hospitalizations or all-cause hospitalizations after PE acquisition.
- A slight decrease in all-cause emergency department visits was noted (-1.36%).
- Patient composition, including age, sex, race, ethnicity, and health status, remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Private equity acquisitions of primary care practices were not associated with significant short-term changes in acute care outcomes for traditional Medicare beneficiaries.
- Findings suggest that the impact of PE investment on care quality may vary across different healthcare settings.
- The study contributes to policy discussions regarding the role and effects of private equity in healthcare delivery.
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