title: Current approaches to physician compensation.
abstract: Physician compensation plays a critical importance in the delivery of health care and the financial health of practices and payors. The choice of compensation methodologies impacts the use of health care resources, the splitting of revenues amongst groups, the incentive to provide more or less care and a variety of other medico-business behaviors. The health care industry overwhelmingly has concluded that the method of payment plays a major role in the types and amounts of services provided. From a counselor's perspective, it is critical to understand the pros and cons and the purposes of different compensation methods. Because the country is likely to end up with a mix of payment systems, it is also likely that practices and payors will continue to employ a mix of systems. In general, there one absolute right system exits. Rather, each practice should thoughtfully develop a system aimed at achieving the goals it desires.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000191:economics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005376:Financial Management; D006123:Group Practice / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D010816:Physician Incentive Plans / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000191:economics*; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States