Physicians in primary care specialties experienced a 2.8 percent increase in their median compensation in 2009, according to the Medical Group Management Association.
The MGMA's report, “Physician Compensation and Production Survey: 2010 Report Based on 2009 Data,” shows that specialty care physicians continued to receive higher overall compensation levels but reported mixed movement in 2009. Some specialists felt the effects of the recession and other factors, while others showed increased income.
"Despite a convergence of economic factors, employers' and payers' increased commitment to preserve the ability of primary care physicians to do their important work has allowed their compensation to keep pace with inflation,” said William F. Jessee, MD, the MGMA's president and CEO.
"The continued threat of cuts to Medicare payments and its impact on private insurance reimbursement to all physicians impedes practices’ ability to deliver quality care to an ever expanding patient population," he said.
Findings showed that physicians in obstetrics/gynecology, invasive cardiology and hematology/oncology were among specialists who reported flat or declining incomes, physicians in OB/GYN posted a 1.1 percent decline in total median compensation in 2009 and invasive cardiologists posted a .2 percent decrease. Physicians in hematology/oncology also reported compensation levels that added to several years of overall flat compensation. It has only increased 2.2 percent overall since 2005.
On the other hand, physicians in dermatology posted a 12.2 percent increase in compensation according to the report, adding to steady increases in compensation over the past several years. This may be due in part to dermatologists' ability to offer elective procedures not covered by insurance and to collect the full fee for them at the time of service. An increase in demand for dermatology services may also have driven up compensation.
Ophthalmologists reported a 7.7 percent increase in 2009 as laser refractive surgery and other non-covered services became increasingly popular.
This year's report provides data on nearly 60,000 providers in more than 110 specialties.