Self-employed vs. employed physicians: Medicare, Medicaid patient count

Medicaid patient counts for self-employed and employed physicians were substantially lower than Medicare, according to Medscape’s 2024 “Doctors Evaluate Medicare and Medicaid Report 2024,” published July 12. 

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Medscape surveyed 1,030 physicians across more than 29 specialties from Feb. 1 to March 19. 

Seventy-seven percent of self-employed physicians said that 11% of patients were covered by Medicare, compared with37% of Medicaid patients. According to Medscape, this could reflect a hesitancy of small practices to take on lower Medicaid payment rates and Medicaid patients favoring local hospitals. 

Here’s how self-employed physicians said how much of their patient count comes from Medicare and Medicaid:

Medicare:

1% to 5% of patient count: 5%

6% to 10% of patient count: 7%

11% to 20% of patient count: 14%

21% to 50% of patient count: 40%

More than 50% of patient count: 23%

None: 11%

Medicaid:

1% to 5% of patient count: 21%

6% to 10% of patient count: 25%

11% to 20% of patient count:15%

21% to 50% of patient count: 17%

More than 50% of patient count: 5%

None: 16%

Here’s how employed physicians answered the question:

Medicare:

1% to 5% of patient count: 7%

6% to 10% of patient count: 8%

11% to 20% of patient count: 17%

21% to 50% of patient count: 40%

More than 50% of patient count: 18%

None: 10%

Medicaid:

1% to 5% of patient count: 15%

6% to 10% of patient count: 18%

11% to 20% of patient count: 21%

21% to 50% of patient count: 23%

More than 50% of patient count: 18%

None: 5%

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