Over the past three years, more than 86 percent of physicians said income in their practices has been flat or declining, and healthcare reform has played a major role, according to a recent survey from Merritt Hawkins.
Primary care physicians, through Medicare reimbursement increases and their enhanced roles in accountable care organizations and medical homes, were more inclined to see income increases. On the flip side, specialists were more likely to point out income declines due to their Medicare reimbursement cuts.
The survey fielded responses from more than 13,500 physicians and covers a broad array of topics, ranging from physician work schedule to job satisfaction. Here are 24 statistics on how physicians described income levels over the past three years.
Physicians aged 40 and younger
Increasing: 22.6 percent
Flat: 46.7 percent
Declining: 30.7 percent
Physicians older than 40
Increasing: 11.9 percent
Flat: 38.5 percent
Declining: 49.6 percent
Male physicians
Increasing: 12.7 percent
Flat: 38.5 percent
Declining: 48.8 percent
Female physicians
Increasing: 16.3 percent
Flat: 43.8 percent
Declining: 39.9 percent
Hospital-employed physicians
Increasing: 17.6 percent
Flat: 48.5 percent
Declining: 33.9 percent
Physicians who own their practice
Increasing: 10.5 percent
Flat: 31.2 percent
Declining: 58.3 percent
Primary care physicians
Increasing: 19 percent
Flat: 44.3 percent
Declining: 36.7 percent
Specialists
Increasing: 11 percent
Flat: 37.6 percent
Declining: 51.4 percent
Primary care physicians, through Medicare reimbursement increases and their enhanced roles in accountable care organizations and medical homes, were more inclined to see income increases. On the flip side, specialists were more likely to point out income declines due to their Medicare reimbursement cuts.
The survey fielded responses from more than 13,500 physicians and covers a broad array of topics, ranging from physician work schedule to job satisfaction. Here are 24 statistics on how physicians described income levels over the past three years.
Physicians aged 40 and younger
Increasing: 22.6 percent
Flat: 46.7 percent
Declining: 30.7 percent
Physicians older than 40
Increasing: 11.9 percent
Flat: 38.5 percent
Declining: 49.6 percent
Male physicians
Increasing: 12.7 percent
Flat: 38.5 percent
Declining: 48.8 percent
Female physicians
Increasing: 16.3 percent
Flat: 43.8 percent
Declining: 39.9 percent
Hospital-employed physicians
Increasing: 17.6 percent
Flat: 48.5 percent
Declining: 33.9 percent
Physicians who own their practice
Increasing: 10.5 percent
Flat: 31.2 percent
Declining: 58.3 percent
Primary care physicians
Increasing: 19 percent
Flat: 44.3 percent
Declining: 36.7 percent
Specialists
Increasing: 11 percent
Flat: 37.6 percent
Declining: 51.4 percent
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