Medscape released "Gastroenterologist Physician Compensation Report 2017."
Here are 10 facts on gastroenterologist alternative payment model participation, the ACA and patient interaction.
1. Regarding how much more they should be paid:
- A majority (75 percent) said they should earn between 11 percent and 50 percent more
- 42 percent said between 11 percent and 25 percent more
- 33 percent said between 26 and 50 percent more
2. Concerning which payment models gastroenterologists participate in:
- Accountable Care Organization participation — 40 percent
- Cash-only practice model — 4 percent
- Concierge practice — 3 percent
- No payment models apply — 28 percent
3. More than half (54 percent) of gastroenterologists expect to participate in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. Medscape said respondents were among the most to answer affirmatively compared to other specialties.
4. Medscape asked whether gastroenterologists would drop a payer that paid poorly. Approximately 28 percent said they would. Twenty-five said no because they need all payers, 16 percent said no citing inappropriateness, 7 percent said no "for other reasons" and 24 percent said it was not applicable.
5. Forty-five percent of gastroenterologists said the ACA brought them an influx of new patients, a 1 percent increase over 2016.
6. A majority of gastroenterologists (77 percent) are continuing to see new and current Medicare/Medicaid patients.
7. More gastroenterologists are electing to participate in the healthcare exchanges. Forty-four percent said they'd participate, up from 27 percent in 2016.
8. Concerning discussing treatment cost with patients, 38 percent said they regularly do so, 49 percent said they occasionally do so and 7 percent never discuss payment costs.
9. A majority of gastroenterologists spend between 30 hours and 55 hours seeing patients.
Specifically, 44 percent spend between 30 and 45 hours with patients, 30 percent spend between 46 hours and 55 hours with patients and 13 percent spend between 56 hours and 65 hours with patients.
10. A majority of gastroenterologists spend between 13 minutes and 24 minutes with each patient.
Specifically, 15 percent spend between nine and 12 minutes with individual patients, 26 percent spend between 13 and 16 minutes with each patient and 46 percent spend between 17 and 24 minutes with each patient.
For 10 facts and statistics relating to compensation, benefits and a regional salary breakdown, click here.