To learn about our approach, explore the above tabs.
For evidence of growing market consolidation, including the difficulties of the solo/small group physician offices, explore the links below. All of the links are from 2007, but the trend towards market consolidation has continued.
The first set of links draw almost exclusively from Medical Economics reporting on the struggles of solo primary care physicians. Some comments:
Las Vegas physicians should take note of the article published in the Review-Journal on November 19, 2007, focusing on Florida hospitals that employ physicians--without ANY local tie-in. This seems to be the beginning of "grooming" the Las Vegas market to accept the staff physician concept.
The Medical Economics articles focus on the effects of health insurance consolidation coupled with a leaner health care economy. Private practice owners should take note of the "Doctors Battle a Health Plan Monopoly" article, which provides the following choices for physicians:
1. Merge with Competitors
2. Join (or Form) a Mega-Group
3. Add Ancillaries
4. Moonlight
5. Become an Employed Physician
The first two choices involve physicians joining together and should be the most palatable to physician-owners. Adding ancillaries is best done in the cash pay business to avoid losing more money as insurance reimbursement declines. The last two choices to "survive" basically involve leaving private practice to some degree by either generating secondary revenue streams or becoming an employed physician.
- News & Trends: Medical Groups Profits Surge in West, Family Practice Management, September 2007.
- Group Practices Pay Better, Medical Economics, Nov. 16, 2007
- Doctors Battle a Health Plan Monopoly, Medical Economics, Nov. 2, 2007
- Doctors struggle with staying independent, Medical Economics, Sept. 21, 2007
- Private practice doctors fight for survival, Medical Economics, Nov. 16, 2007
- Partner or employee: How to decide, Medical Economics, Nov. 2, 2007
- Hired for Hospitals, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nov. 19, 2007
- Is it Time to Team Up?, Medical Economics, June 1, 2007
- As Plans Consolidate, Doctors' Fears Grow, Medical Economics, May 18, 2007
- Health Plans:The Only Game in Town?, Medical Economics, Mar. 16, 2007
- Are Insurers Getting Too Big?, Medical Economics, Oct. 8, 2004
- Doctor Shows Why Insurers Exasperate Him, Las Vegas Sun, August 13, 2007