title: Practice Consolidation: Forces Not of Nature, but of Government, Demographics, Economics, and Technology.
abstract: The demand for healthcare services is increasing more rapidly than the supply of providers, while reimbursement levels ignore the free market law of supply and demand. The regulated healthcare environment in the United States fails to increase prices (i.e., reimbursement rates) as demand outstrips supply. Healthcare practitioners must find alternative methods in order to continue providing excellent patient care while at the same time maintaining an economically viable practice. Practice consolidation with the assistance of private equity healthcare investment is an extremely attractive solution to this imbalance.
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Edlow
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology; D006076:Government; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007449:Investments; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States