A medical worker goes at the entrance to the hospital in New York. The recent study showed that hospitals are increasingly buying private practices belonging to the doctor and the costs of services are increasing. (Photo Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
According to recent research, more hospitals were consumed by private doctor’s practices, delivery costs and other services increased.
From the early August, the participation of doctors in the United States working for hospitals it almost doubledAccording to test Published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, non -profit organization.
And because fewer doctors work in practices belonging to a doctor, patients or their insurers pay more, they found that the authors of the examination.
For example: two years after the hospital, he buys Ob-Gyn practice, labor prices and delivery will jump on an average of 475 USD Prices of doctors are rising by USD 502According to the examination. Researchers focused After birth, which are the most common reason for admission to the hospital among people with private insurance.
This quickly acquiring by hospitals transforms the American industry once dominated by tens of thousands of tiny, belonging to the doctor’s internship.
According to the latest latest private practice, only about 42% of American doctors work in private practice Survey from the American Medical Association. Almost 47% work for hospitals, which is a acute raise over the past few years. Most ambulance doctors are now employed by hospital systems or by staff groups belonging to private equity.
New research contains further evidence about how the acquisition of private practices “can cause anti -competitive price increases,” said Matthew Grennan, one of the authors of the study and professor of economics at Emory University, in a press release.
“As a result, I think that economists and others in the antitrust community probably consider these potential sources of damage,” he said.
Medical debt is The main reason for bankruptcy in the United States, with about 14 million Americans due over 1000 USD medical debtAccording to non -KFF -profit research.
Grennan and his researchers said that these price increases after combining result from reduced competition. However, federal or state regulatory authorities to stop the merger of hospitals that can lead to higher consumer prices.
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But you have taken some steps to reduce medical costs in recent years.
Double -sided groups of legislators in several states addressed The so -called “fees for institutions”, which are fees that some hospitals attract patients’ visits to the hospital.
This year, republican legislators adopted in Oklahomie Bill Requirement from hospitals so that the cost of many of their services is more lucid for patients, so they are aware of costs. Suppliers can face penalties for non -compliance. Just like sir The author, by Democrats and adopted last year, requires that debt collectors submit evidence of the hospital’s compliance with the principles of price transparency before submitting the application to collect medical debts from patients.
Some states have restricted hospitals or doctors can charge fees. Color Set the suppliers and hospitals on the basis of a specific formula if the insurance plans are not able to reduce people’s contributions to a specific level Montana AND Oregon The restricted amount of hospitals and other suppliers can charge fees for their state health plan of employees.
Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be obtained at avollers@stateline.org.
