Primary care physicians nationally reported receiving first-year guaranteed compensation of $180,000 last year, up from $175,000 in 2011, according to an annual survey done by MGMA-ACMPE, the association for executives of medical group practices. The survey also found that practices often are also offering signing bonuses, paid relocation expenses, loan forgiveness, paid vacations and continuing medical education when recruiting physicians. Physician practices are preparing for an influx of new patients next year when the number of people with health insurance is expected to increase through the Affordable Care Act and physician recruitment remains highly competitive, Kenneth Hertz of the MGMA Health Care Consulting Group said in a statement.
