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. 2021 Oct 5;326(13):1325-1328.
doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.16324.

Physician Practice Interruptions in the Treatment of Medicare Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hannah T Neprash  1 , Michael E Chernew  2
Affiliations

Physician Practice Interruptions in the Treatment of Medicare Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hannah T Neprash et al. JAMA. .

Abstract

This study uses Medicare data to assess physician practice interruptions during the 2019-2020 period of the COVID-19 pandemic and provides preliminary evidence on whether those interruptions suggest early retirements or exit from medical practice.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Neprash reported receiving grants from Arnold Ventures. Dr Chernew reported receiving grants from Arnold Ventures; receiving personal fees from American College of Cardiology, American Medical Association, and GI Roundtable; holding equity in Virta Health; serving as chair of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; and that he is a partner in, and holds equity in, V-BID Health Equity.

Figures

Figure.
Figure.. Monthly Physician Practice Interruption Rate, Overall and by Return Status
Month of interruption was defined as the first month during which a physician billed zero claims. Source: Authors’ analysis of Medicare claims data (2019-2020) and Doximity data.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Mehrotra A, Chernew ME, Linetsky D, Hatch H, Cutler D, Schneider EC. The impact of COVID-19 on outpatient visits in 2020: visits remained stable, despite a late surge in cases. Commonwealth Fund. Published February 22, 2021. Accessed July 29, 2021. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2021/feb/impact-covid-19-o...
    1. 2020 Survey of America’s physicians: COVID-19 impact edition. The Physicians Foundation. Accessed July 19, 2021. https://physiciansfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-Survey-...
    1. Primary Care Collaborative . Quick COVID-19 primary care survey. Larry A. Green Center. Accessed July 29, 2021. https://www.green-center.org/covid-survey

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