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Home Research Research Library How the Gender Wage Gap for Primary Care Physicians Differs by Compensation Approach : A Microsimulation Study How the Gender Wage Gap for Primary Care Physicians Differs by Compensation Approach : A Microsimulation Study 2022 Author(s) Ganguli, Ishani, Mulligan, Kathleen L, Phillips, Robert L, and Basu, Sanjay Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, and Achieving Health System Goals Keyword(s) Measurement, and Quality Of Care Volume Annals of Internal Medicine Source Annals of Internal Medicine BACKGROUND: The physician gender wage gap may be due, in part, to productivity-based compensation models that undervalue female practice patterns. OBJECTIVE: To determine how primary care physician (PCP) compensation by gender differs when applying existing productivity-based and alternative compensation models. DESIGN: Microsimulation. SETTING: 2016 to 2019 national clinical registry of 1222 primary care practices. PARTICIPANTS: Male and female PCPs matched on specialty, years since medical school graduation, practice site, and sessions worked. MEASUREMENTS: Net annual, full-time-equivalent compensation for male versus female PCPs, under productivity-based fee-for-service, panel size-based capitation without or with risk adjustment, and hybrid payment models. Microsimulation inputs included patient and visit characteristics and overhead expenses. RESULTS: Among 1435 matched male (n = 881) and female (n = 554) PCPs, female PCP panels included patients who were, on average, younger, had lower diagnosis-based risk scores, were more often female, and were more often uninsured or insured by Medicaid rather than by Medicare. Under productivity-based payment, female PCPs earned a median of $58 829 (interquartile range [IQR], $39 553 to $120 353; 21%) less than male PCPs. This gap was similar under capitation ($58 723 [IQR, $42 141 to $140 192]). It was larger under capitation risk-adjusted for age alone ($74 695 [IQR, $42 884 to $152 423]), for diagnosis-based scores alone ($114 792 [IQR, $49 080 to $215 326] and $89 974 [IQR, $26 175 to $173 760]), and for age-, sex-, and diagnosis-based scores ($83 438 [IQR, $28 927 to $129 414] and $66 195 [IQR, $11 899 to $96 566]). The gap was smaller and nonsignificant under capitation risk-adjusted for age and sex ($36 631 [IQR, $12 743 to $73 898]). LIMITATION: Panel attribution based on office visits. CONCLUSION: The gender wage gap varied by compensation model, with capitation risk-adjusted for patient age and sex resulting in a smaller gap. Future models might better align with primary care effort and outcomes. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None. ABFM Research Read all 2021 Reenvisioning Family Medicine Residency Education Go to Reenvisioning Family Medicine Residency Education 2024 The Gender Wage Gap Among Early-Career Family Physicians Go to The Gender Wage Gap Among Early-Career Family Physicians 2025 Factors Associated with Documenting Social Determinants of Health in Electronic Health Records Go to Factors Associated with Documenting Social Determinants of Health in Electronic Health Records 2021 Lower Likelihood of Burnout Among Family Physicians From Underrepresented Racial-Ethnic Groups Go to Lower Likelihood of Burnout Among Family Physicians From Underrepresented Racial-Ethnic Groups
Author(s) Ganguli, Ishani, Mulligan, Kathleen L, Phillips, Robert L, and Basu, Sanjay Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, and Achieving Health System Goals Keyword(s) Measurement, and Quality Of Care Volume Annals of Internal Medicine Source Annals of Internal Medicine
ABFM Research Read all 2021 Reenvisioning Family Medicine Residency Education Go to Reenvisioning Family Medicine Residency Education 2024 The Gender Wage Gap Among Early-Career Family Physicians Go to The Gender Wage Gap Among Early-Career Family Physicians 2025 Factors Associated with Documenting Social Determinants of Health in Electronic Health Records Go to Factors Associated with Documenting Social Determinants of Health in Electronic Health Records 2021 Lower Likelihood of Burnout Among Family Physicians From Underrepresented Racial-Ethnic Groups Go to Lower Likelihood of Burnout Among Family Physicians From Underrepresented Racial-Ethnic Groups
2021 Reenvisioning Family Medicine Residency Education Go to Reenvisioning Family Medicine Residency Education
2024 The Gender Wage Gap Among Early-Career Family Physicians Go to The Gender Wage Gap Among Early-Career Family Physicians
2025 Factors Associated with Documenting Social Determinants of Health in Electronic Health Records Go to Factors Associated with Documenting Social Determinants of Health in Electronic Health Records
2021 Lower Likelihood of Burnout Among Family Physicians From Underrepresented Racial-Ethnic Groups Go to Lower Likelihood of Burnout Among Family Physicians From Underrepresented Racial-Ethnic Groups