Primary care income down, specialists up

Survey shows switch after five years

For the first time in five years, primary care physicians are getting smaller pay raises than specialists. And those small raises are coming at a time when physicians are working harder.

These findings are part of the annual Physician Compensation and Production Survey: 1997 Report Based on 1996 Data published by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) in Englewood, CO.

The report shows an increase in compensation for primary care physicians of just 1.42% to $135,217, compared to a 2.58% average increase for all specialists to $221,544. (For a further breakdown of the compensation figures, see chart, at right.)

Four specialities, however, ophthalmologists, neurologists, anesthesiologists, and pulmonary disease specialists saw a decline in income over the year.

David Gans, MSHA, CMPE, director of survey operations at MGMA says "The bloom is off the compensation rose" for primary care physicians.

But the raises are coming as physicians work harder for their money. Production was up more than compensation in every case except diagnostic radiology, which saw compensation rise 8.85% to $269,404 and production go up 5.65% to $782,343.

The average increase in production for all primary care physicians was 3.36% and 10.61% for all specialists. In some cases, the increases were dramatic. (See chart, below.) Cardiologists brought in more than 20% more revenue over the year. Only anesthesiologists and emergency medicine recorded drops 8.17% and 6.91% decreases respectively.

Nearly 31,000 physicians and midlevel providers from 1,582 practices participated in the survey.

[The report is available by calling the MGMA at (303) 397-7888. The cost is $200 for members, $250 for affiliates, and $300 for others.]