Physician Practice Benchmark Survey

UPDATED . 4 MIN READ

The Division of Economic and Health Policy Research conducts independent research to support AMA federal, state and private sector advocacy agendas.

One of the division’s most significant efforts is the Physician Practice Benchmark Survey, which focuses on the practice arrangements and payment methodologies of physicians who take care of patients for at least 20 hours per week and don't work for the federal government.

The Benchmark Surveys have been conducted in every even year between 2012 and 2022. Policy Research Perspective reports, based on the surveys, provide detailed analysis of the data. 

AMA Research Challenge

Poster symposium and semifinals take place Oct. 18-20. AMA members get exclusive access to score posters in the semifinals.

Recent Changes in Physician Practice Arrangements: Shifts Away from Private Practice and Towards Larger Practice Size Continue Through 2022

This report (PDF) describes the changes in the ownership and organization of physician practices since the first Benchmark Survey was fielded in 2012. Between 2012 and 2022 the share of physicians who work in private practices dropped by 13 percentage points from 60.1% to 46.7%. There has been a redistribution of physicians from small to large practices. The percentage of physicians in practices with 10 or fewer physicians fell from 61.4% in 2012 to 51.8% in 2022, and the percentage of physicians in practices with 50 or more physicians grew from 12.2% to 18.3%. There have also been changes in practice type. Forty-two percent of physicians worked in single specialty practices and 26.7% in multi-specialty practices in 2022, reflecting a shift of about four percentage points since 2012 from the former practice type to the latter. The report also explores the reasons that private practices are sold to hospitals or health systems and describes the differences between private practices and those that are hospital-owned.

Medical Liability Claim Frequency Among U.S. Physicians

This report (PDF) presents estimates of claim frequency among U.S. physicians and explores whether the likelihood of claims varies by age, gender, specialty, Census Division and employment status. It finds that in 2022, 31% of physicians had been sued in their careers to date. It also finds that the risk of ever being sued varies significantly by specialty, gender and age. 

Students save with AMA membership

  • $68 for a four-year membership–only $17 per year
  • Unlimited access to the JAMA Network®

Supporting you today as a medical student. Protecting your future as a physician.

2020 survey

2018 survey

2016 survey

2014 survey

2012 survey

FEATURED STORIES