There is slightly more physician support for a single-payer system over a multiple-payer system, although only 35.2 percent of physicians projected a single-payer system would improve or "significantly" improve quality of patient care, according to a new MDLinx.com survey.
The survey involved nearly 900 U.S. physicians and advanced practice clinicians.
Here are five findings from the survey.
1. Nearly half of respondents (48.4 percent) said they support (22.2 percent) or strongly support (26.2 percent) a single-payer system, according to the survey. A slightly fewer number of respondents (45 percent) said the same regarding a multiple-payer system. Less than 10 percent of respondents were neutral.
2. Nearly half of respondents (45.6 percent) said they believe a single-payer system would lower quality of care (20.9 percent) or "significantly" lower quality of care for patients (24.7 percent).
3. In contrast, 35.2 percent of respondents projected a single-payer payer system would improve (25.1 percent) or "significantly" improve (10.1 percent) quality of patient care.
4. Respondents were also asked how a single-payer system would affect the U.S. physician workforce. When given the option of picking more than one answer, 40 percent of respondents projected a single-payer system would have "mostly negative effects" on the U.S. physician workforce, according to the survey. Fewer respondents (36.1 percent) projected it would have "mostly positive effects."
5. A majority of respondents (67 percent) expect a single-payer system would slightly lessen (26 percent) or significantly lessen (41 percent) annual income for physicians and advanced practice clinicians, the survey found. Only 7.6 percent said it would increase income.
Read the full survey findings here.