Primary care physicians have historically been compensated less than specialists in overall salary and benefits, and the same trend holds true when it comes to average compensation to collections ratios, according to the Medical Group Management Association's Physician Compensation and Production Survey: 2011 Report Based on 2010 Data.
Compensation to collections ratios show how much a physician is paid for every dollar they collect. For example, primary care physicians had an average compensation to collections ratio of 0.558, meaning they were compensated 55.8 cents of every dollar collected. Comparatively, specialists had a 0.702 ratio, or were compensated 70.2 cents for every dollar collected.
Here are the average compensation to collections ratios for primary care physicians and specialists from 2010, the most recent figures available:
Overall Compensation to Collections Ratio:
Primary care physicians: 0.558
Specialty care physicians: 0.702
Single-Specialty Practice Compensation to Collections Ratio:
Primary care physicians: 0.606
Specialty care physicians: 0.740
Multispecialty Practice Compensation to Collections Ratio:
Primary care physicians: 0.551
Specialty care physicians: 0.668
Hospital-Owned Practice Compensation to Collections Ratio:
Primary care physicians: 0.577
Specialty care physicians: 0.779
Independently Owned Practice Compensation to Collections Ratio:
Primary care physicians: 0.537
Specialty care physicians: 0.658
Compensation to collections ratios show how much a physician is paid for every dollar they collect. For example, primary care physicians had an average compensation to collections ratio of 0.558, meaning they were compensated 55.8 cents of every dollar collected. Comparatively, specialists had a 0.702 ratio, or were compensated 70.2 cents for every dollar collected.
Here are the average compensation to collections ratios for primary care physicians and specialists from 2010, the most recent figures available:
Overall Compensation to Collections Ratio:
Primary care physicians: 0.558
Specialty care physicians: 0.702
Single-Specialty Practice Compensation to Collections Ratio:
Primary care physicians: 0.606
Specialty care physicians: 0.740
Multispecialty Practice Compensation to Collections Ratio:
Primary care physicians: 0.551
Specialty care physicians: 0.668
Hospital-Owned Practice Compensation to Collections Ratio:
Primary care physicians: 0.577
Specialty care physicians: 0.779
Independently Owned Practice Compensation to Collections Ratio:
Primary care physicians: 0.537
Specialty care physicians: 0.658
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