Gastroenterology Practice Consolidation Between 2012 and 2020

Introduction: Multiple studies have indicated physicians are practicing medicine in increasingly larger groups. However, specialty-specific data on the extent of consolidation are lacking for many specialties, including gastroenterology. We aim to determine the extent of consolidation for gastroenterology in recent years. Methods: The Physician Compare database was used to gather information at both an individual and group level. This information included location and number of providers for each group. Cochran-Armitage tests were used to test for differences between practice sizes in 2012 and 2020. Results: Between 2012 and 2020, the number of physicians increased from 12,766 to 13,934, while the total number of practices decreased from 4517 to 3865. The total number of physicians who practice in groups of less than 9 physicians decreased by 23.9%, while the total number of physicians in practices of 100 + increased by 16.8%. Discussion: Significant consolidation has occurred in the field of gastroenterology in every geographic region of the USA. The causes of consolidation are multi-faceted and include the legislative environment, private equity and hospital acquisition of private groups, individual physician lifestyle preferences, and economic benefits of economies of scale. However, the consequences of consolidation are still unclear. Conclusion: Over the last eight years, gastroenterologists have been practicing in increasingly larger groups. This trend has been consistent in each area of the country. Future research should focus on the impact of consolidation on patient care and physician wellbeing.