Health Affairs

Posting date: February 4, 2004

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Health Affairs, 10.1377/hlthaff.w4.73
Copyright © 2004 by Project HOPE

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Perspective: Benefits And Pitfalls In Applying The Experience Of Prepaid Group Practices To The U.S. Physician Supply

Edward Salsberg ¹ Gaetano Forte ^2*

¹ Edward Salsberg directs the Center for Health Workforce Studies, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, in Rensselaer.
² Gaetano Forte is a program research specialist at the School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, in Rensselaer.

^*Corresponding author.

Abstract

The paper by Jonathan Weiner includes important improvements in the methodology used to compare the physician workforce in prepaid group practices (PGPs) with the U.S. physician workforce. It also provides valuable insights for policymakers and researchers. Despite the improvements, concerns remain regarding the comparability of the populations served and physician activities in PGPs and the country as a whole. While PGPs appear to offer valuable lessons on how to use physicians effectively and efficiently, it is inappropriate to use the PGP physician rates to determine the number of physicians needed in the United States.

Key Words: Physicians, Managed Care - Physicians, Managed Care, Workforce Issues

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