Perspective: benefits and pitfalls in applying the experience of prepaid group practices to the U.S. physician supply.

Salsberg E, Forte G. Perspective: benefits and pitfalls in applying the experience of prepaid group practices to the U.S. physician supply. Health Affairs Web Exclusive. February 4, 2004.
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/early/2004/02/04/hlthaff.w4.73.short

The paper by Jonathan Weiner included important improvements in the methodology used to compare the physician workforce in prepaid group practices (PGPs) with the U.S. physician workforce. It also provided valuable insights for policymakers and researchers. Despite the improvements, concerns remained regarding the comparability of the populations served and physician activities in PGPs and the country as a whole. While PGPs appeared to offer valuable lessons on how to use physicians effectively and efficiently, it was inappropriate to use the PGP physician rates to determine the number of physicians needed in the U.S.