Benefits and pitfalls in applying the experience of prepaid group practices to the U.S. physician supply

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.