Private equity increases the cost of caring for patients in six major physician specialties, according to a July 10 report published by the American Antitrust Institute in partnership with the Petris Center and the Washington Center for Equitable Growth.
According to the study, private equity-acquired practices in several specialties had statistically significant expenditure per patient increases.
Six specialties with cost increases from private equity and the expenditure increase per patient:
Note: Specialties are ranked by the highest to lowest number of private equity partnerships formed in 2021.
1. Gastroenterology: 16.4 percent
2. Dermatology: 4.1 percent
3. OB-GYN: 10.5 percent
4. Ophthalmology: 15.4 percent
5. Urology: 8.5 percent
6. Primary care: 6.2 percent