The average amount billed to commercial payers each year by individual physicians varies greatly from specialty to specialty, with general surgery at the high end and pediatrics at the low end.
A general surgeon generates $11.7 million in billing to commercial health plans each year on average, while a pediatrician generates $1.3 million.
The findings come from AMN Healthcare, which analyzed claims and clearinghouse data representing approximately 95 percent of commercial claims submitted by physicians in 18 physician specialties, as well as commercial claims made by nurse practitioners and certified registered nurse anesthetists. Billing was tracked for the 12-month period from January through December 2021.
The average, individual annual billing amount submitted by physicians and advanced practitioners tracked in the report to commercial payers is $3.8 million. These billings are for services that may include consultations, tests, procedures and other activities. Certified registered nurse anesthetists generate an annual average of $1,750,281 in billing to commercial payers, while nurse practitioners generate an annual average of $777,393.
Below are the top 15 specialties analyzed by AMN Healthcare in its 2023 Physician Billing Report in descending order of average annual billings to commercial payers.
General surgery
Average billing to commercial payers: $11,669,016
Orthopedic surgery
Average billing to commercial payers: $9,809,514
Critical care (intensivist)
Average billing to commercial payers: $6,677,319
Urology
Average billing to commercial payers: $5,886,763
Gastroenterology
Average billing to commercial payers: $5,530,221
Otolaryngology
Average billing to commercial payers: $4,190,555
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Average billing to commercial payers: $3,761,777
Rheumatology
Average billing to commercial payers: $3,410,281
Cardiology
Average billing to commercial payers: $3,406,027
Anesthesiology
Average billing to commercial payers: $3,329,020
Pulmonary Disease
Average billing to commercial payers: $3,123,235
Neurology
Average billing to commercial payers: $2,780,362
Psychiatry
Average billing to commercial payers: $2,697,461
Internal Medicine
Average billing to commercial payers: $2,594,400
Radiology
Average billing to commercial payers: $2,031,501