Physician Compensation Falls Short of Inflation

A new report from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) finds that physician compensation in 60 polled specialties failed to keep up with inflation in 2006, as measured by increases in the consumer price index.

The report, titled Physician Compensation and Production Survey: 2007 Report Based on 2006 Data, indicates that physicians are working harder and their production increased at a rate higher than their compensation. The report states that primary care physician salaries rose 2 percent in 2006, less than the 3.2 percent inflation increase. Specialists reported a lower 1.7 percent increase for an average $322,259 in compensation in 2006. The survey does not break out radiation oncology as a specialty. Diagnostic radiology increases were higher than inflation, while hematology/oncology increases for the year 2005-2006 were negligible. 

The full report is available at:  www.mgma.com.