As ASCs continue to proliferate and consolidate, independent physician groups are navigating new strategic and financial pressures.
Marc Greenberg, MD, an orthopedic surgeon based in Baltimore, Md., joined Becker’s to discuss why groups are choosing to build smaller ASCs, and why the biggest losers in this race for scale may ultimately be the physicians themselves.
Editor’s note: This interview was edited lightly for clarity and length.
Q: As we see increasing consolidation in the ASC space, what are some of the potential drawbacks or unintended consequences of this trend?
Dr. Greenberg: Yeah, I think the downside of all of it is you end up with probably decreased patient choice. The monopolization of medicine is probably inevitable for a lot of reasons. But I think it increases healthcare costs, because what I see is everyone is racing to be the biggest fish in the sea — to have the most negotiating power. Insurers are doing it, hospitals are doing it,and I think private practices are doing it in response.
Q: And what are the specific downsides for physicians when it comes to this broader consolidation across the ASC and healthcare landscape?
Dr. Greenberg: I think it’s probably the worst for physicians. As you lose choice, the ability of physicians to feel like they can leave and go somewhere else goes down. Employers take advantage of that. I think they’ll be stuck in worse jobs, and overall, pay will go down.
