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Nearly 1 in 3 patients don't see primary care doc
AxiosNearly 30% of all patients who received medical services between 2016 and 2022 did not see a primary care physician, a FAIR Health analysis provided first to Axios shows.
Why it matters: Primary care providers are supposed to manage patients' day-to-day health needs and provide preventative care, and evidence shows it can drive down costs and improve outcomes. But many people are clearly getting their care elsewhere — if they're getting it at all.
The big picture: The report points to the geographic distribution of primary care providers around the country and regional gaps that can lead to worse outcomes.
"Increasing the density of primary care providers in an area improves the detection and diagnosis of disease and reduces health disparities," the report's authors say, pointing to a study that correlated a higher density of providers compared to patients with increased life expectancy.
Why it matters: Primary care providers are supposed to manage patients' day-to-day health needs and provide preventative care, and evidence shows it can drive down costs and improve outcomes. But many people are clearly getting their care elsewhere — if they're getting it at all.
The big picture: The report points to the geographic distribution of primary care providers around the country and regional gaps that can lead to worse outcomes.
"Increasing the density of primary care providers in an area improves the detection and diagnosis of disease and reduces health disparities," the report's authors say, pointing to a study that correlated a higher density of providers compared to patients with increased life expectancy.
