A recent study by Avalere, funded by the American Independent Medical Practice Association, laid out how practice affiliation affects the share of gastroenterologists' Medicare beneficiaries.
The study looked at physicians specializing in cardiology, gastroenterology, urology, oncology and orthopedics from 2019 to 2022.
Here are five key breakdowns to know:
1. The share of Medicare beneficiaries attributed to gastroenterologists by practice affiliation between 2019 and 2022:
|
Unaffiliated physician practice |
Private equity-affiliated practice |
Corporate |
Hospital |
|
|
2019 |
42% |
7% |
32% |
20% |
|
2020 |
36% |
9% |
33% |
22% |
|
2021 |
32% |
15% |
30% |
24% |
|
2022 |
17% |
17% |
42% |
24% |
2. The number of Medicare patients under gastroenterologists by practice affiliation in 2022:
|
Unaffiliated physician practice |
Private equity-affiliated practice |
Corporate |
Hospital |
|
|
Gastroenterology |
309 |
305 |
757 |
422 |
3. The total Medicare expenditures per beneficiary per year by GI practice affiliation in 2022:
|
Unaffiliated physician practice |
Private equity-affiliated practice |
Corporate |
Hospital |
|
|
Gastroenterology |
$26,971 |
$28,881 |
$29,985 |
$32,339 |
4. Gastroenterology had the largest range in total Medicare expenditures across practice affiliation models — with a difference of $5,368 between beneficiaries attributed to independent practices compared to to hospital-affiliated gastroenterologists.
5. The proportion of total Medicare expenditures in facility setting per beneficiary per year by GI practice affiliation in 2022:
|
Unaffiliated physician practice |
Private equity-affiliated practice |
Corporate |
Hospital |
|
|
Gastroenterology |
60% |
61% |
63% |
67% |