For the study, researchers examined data about physician practice acquisition and hospital and health system ownership from Jan. 1, 2019, to Jan. 1, 2021.
Five findings from the study:
1. Over the two-year study period, the number of hospital-owned practices grew by 3,200 practices, reflecting an 8 percent increase.
2. By January 2021, 69 percent of physicians were employed by hospitals or corporate entities like private equity firms and health insurers.
3. Over the two-year study period, 18,600 additional physicians were hospital-employed, with 11,400 of that shift occurring after the onset of COVID-19.
4. The rate of hospital or corporate-owned physician practices climbed 8.5 percent following the onset of COVID-19.
5. From Jan. 1, 2019, to Jan. 1, 2021, hospital ownership of physician practices grew between 6 percent and 11 percent across U.S. regions, and corporate ownership grew between 44 percent and 59 percent.
To read more about the study, click here.
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