Differences between Family Physicians' and General Internists' Medical Charges

Objectives. Data from 509 primary care patients were analyzed to determine whether practice style differences between family physicians and general internists generate differential utilization of health care resources leading to differential medical charges. Methods. New adult patients were prospect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical care 1999-01, Vol.37 (1), p.78-82
Main Authors: Bertakis, Klea D., Helms, L. Jay, Azari, Rahman, Callahan, Edward J., Robbins, John A., Miller, Jill
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Ambulatory Care - economics
Ambulatory Care - statistics & numerical data
California
Emergency departments
Emergency Service, Hospital - economics
Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data
Family physicians
Family practice
Family Practice - economics
Fees, Medical - statistics & numerical data
Female
Health Services Research
Health status
Hospitalization
Hospitals, University - economics
Hospitals, University - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Internal medicine
Internal Medicine - economics
Male
Medicine
Physical health
Physicians
Practice Patterns, Physicians' - economics
Practice Patterns, Physicians' - statistics & numerical data
Primary health care
Prospective Studies
Regression Analysis
Utilization Review - economics
Utilization Review - statistics & numerical data
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Summary:Objectives. Data from 509 primary care patients were analyzed to determine whether practice style differences between family physicians and general internists generate differential utilization of health care resources leading to differential medical charges. Methods. New adult patients were prospectively randomized to care by family physicians and general internists. Utilization of medical care services and associated charges then were monitored for 1 year of care. Results. Family practice patients had a significantly higher mean number of visits to their primary care clinic and significantly fewer emergency room visits than patients assigned to Internal Medicine. Mean charges for primary care and emergency department treatment were significantly lower for patients assigned to Family Practice than for those assigned to General Internal Medicine. There were no significant differences in charges for specialty clinic visits, hospitalizations, or diagnostic services. Conclusions. Practice style differences between family physicians and general internists were associated with differential medical charges, with family physicians generating lower charges for some aspects of care.
ISSN:0025-7079
1537-1948
DOI:10.1097/00005650-199901000-00011