CHAMP faculty Rebecca Staiger, along with co-authors, recently published the article "Physician Group Influences on Treatment Intensity and Health: Evidence from Physician Switchers". In an era where nearly one-fifth of the U.S. economy is spent on health care, understanding what drives these costs is urgent. This study explores how the growing trend of physicians working in groups influences their treatment decisions and, ultimately, Medicare spending. By analyzing internists who switch physician groups within the same hospital, the research finds that doctors quickly adopt the treatment intensity of their new peers—driving up spending without improving patient health outcomes. These findings shed light on how organizational factors can shape care delivery and the economics of health care.
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