Here are five things to know about each of the top 10 states for physicians to practice, according to Medscape's Best and Worst Places to Practice 2015 report.
1. Tennessee
• Second lowest cost of living in the United States
• Tax burden is 7.6 percent
• Per capita malpractice payouts are in the middle of the pack at $8.96
• Average physician compensation is $279,000 — in the top 10
• Although Nashville is saturated with physicians, nearby locations have good schools and there are many attractions
2. Mississippi
• Average physician compensation is $275,000
• There are low property taxes
• Cost of living is low
• The state recently enacted tort reform
• Oxford is a city to consider with the population increasing 10.5 percent from 2010 to 2013
3. Oklahoma
• The average state and local tax burden is 8.5 percent, below the national average of 9.8 percent
• Around 25 percent of the physicians in Oklahoma are adopting or planning to adopt a concierge practice model
• Average physician compensation is $304,000
• There is a low cost of living
• Tulsa is a recommended city with an active arts community and cultural opportunities
4. Texas
• Texas is a business-friendly state with no state income tax
• There are several teaching institutions and health systems
• Medical malpractice payouts are significantly reduced, last year mounting to only $3.74 per capita
• There is a corporate practice of medicine statute
• Is attractive to families with children
5. Wyoming
• There isn't state income tax
• The average compensation for physicians is $312,000
• Managed care doesn't have a presence in the state, and providers often practice under the fee-for-service model
• There aren't many physicians practicing in the state, and most who are say they're over-extended or at capacity
• Casper is a city to consider with some urban amenities
6. Idaho
• Around 20 percent of physicians plan to retire in the next few years
• Average compensation is $276,000
• There are moderate malpractice payouts
• The tax burden is "average" which allows physicians to maximize earnings
• There are many outdoor activities to enjoy as well as metropolitan areas
7. South Carolina
• The NIH Complementary and Alternative Medical Center at the University of South Carolina is attractive — one of 11 locations in the United States
• Physicians are often able to practice to their full scope of training, with fewer entrenched territorial lines
• There is a small-town feel
• There are museums and cultural events, especially near the universities.
• The city to consider is Columbia as the state capital and home to the University, but also close to Lake Murray
8. New Hampshire
• There is a high concentration of physicians in New England, but not in New Hampshire
• The average physician compensation is $300,000
• The state taxes only dividends and interest, not wages, and other taxes are low
• Around half of physicians in New Hampshire participate in ACOs
• There is a high enrollment in the federal-run insurance marketplace
• The population is healthy, ranking number seven in overall health by the United Health Foundation
9. Nebraska
• There is a favorable ratio of nurses to physicians — 19 percent higher than the national average
• The population is healthy, ranked number 10 by the United Health Foundation
• There is low malpractice — $4.43 per capita last year
• Cost of living is well under the national average
• The city to consider is Omaha with good schools, low crime, family amenities and a high median average income for the state
10. Alaska
• The average physician compensation is $330,000, well above the national average
• There is no income tax
• There are several outdoor activities available
• There are vast practice opportunities for physicians, who treat a wide range of cases
• There is a high cost of living