Ep. 52: Private equity and hospital consolidation with Yashaswini Singh, PhD, MPH

Yashaswini Singh, PhD, MPH, a health care economist and assistant professor at Brown University's School of Public Health, joins the show to discuss her recent research article, "Growth of Private Equity and Hospital Consolidation in Primary Care and Price Implications," published in JAMA Health Forum. 

Check out our previous episodes on ransomware gangs, direct primary care, MGMA's policy wishlist under the Trump administration, and top risks to practices.

For more, be sure to check out Medical Economics Pulse, a quick-hitting news podcast that keeps busy physicians in the know.

Music Credits:
Lofi Chillout Hip Hop Beat by Joystock - stock.adobe.com
Relaxing Lounge by Classy Call me Man - stock.adobe.com
COCKTAIL by Mythical Audio - stock.adobe.com

Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.

Introduction to Primary Care Pressures (00:00:00)
Discussion on significant pressures faced by independent primary care practices in the U.S.

Podcast Introduction (00:00:17)
Austin Littrell introduces the episode and the speakers, including guest Yashaswini Singh, PhD, MPH.

Trends in Hospital and Private Equity Consolidation (00:01:08)
Dr. Singh discusses consolidation trends in primary care involving hospitals and private equity.

Market Dynamics of Healthcare (00:02:39)
Insights on how U.S. healthcare markets struggle due to inadequate competition and increasing consolidation.

Private Equity Investment Overview (00:03:48)
Discussion on the substantial investment by private equity firms in various healthcare settings.

Methodology of Research Study (00:04:00)
Overview of the research objectives and methodology used to analyze primary care employment trends.

Findings on Primary Care Employment (00:05:01)
Key findings reveal a significant increase in hospital-affiliated primary care physicians from 2009 to 2022.

Impact of Pricing on Care (00:06:18)
Analysis of how physician employment trends affect healthcare costs and patient pricing.

Explaining Price Differences (00:08:14)
Discussion on factors contributing to price differences between hospital-affiliated and independent practices.

Regional Disparities in Consolidation (00:10:27)
Examination of geographic variations in hospital and private equity affiliations among primary care physicians.

Evolution of Private Equity in Healthcare (00:12:16)
Insights into the timeline and focus shifts of private equity investment in physician practices.

Future Research Directions (00:15:05)
Discussion on the need for further research on consolidation impacts and private equity exit strategies.

Implications for Primary Care Physicians (00:17:23)
Advice for primary care physicians on navigating the changing landscape of healthcare consolidation.

Emerging Trends in Primary Care (00:19:15)
Recognition of additional evolving models in primary care beyond hospital and private equity affiliations.