Female PCPs Have Equal/Better Quality Outcomes Than Male PCPs
TUESDAY, May 20, 2025 -- Female primary care physicians (PCPs) in value-based payment models have equal or better quality outcomes and higher earning than their male counterparts, according to a research letter published online May 16 in JAMA Health Forum to coincide with the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine, held from May 14 to 17 in Hollywood, Florida.
Ishani Ganguli, M.D., M.P.H., from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues examined gender differences in reimbursed earnings and quality among PCPs participating in full risk-sharing arrangements with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, which enroll most Medicare-eligible adults. The study included 2,022 patient-level MA claims and Medicare Star quality data from 13 payers. Physician gender differences in per-patient earnings estimated as fee-for-service payment and as a value-based payment were examined as the primary outcomes.
Data were included for 872 PCPs (40.4 percent women) working in 15 practice groups in seven states, with 223,810 patients. The researchers found that male and female PCPs had similar specialties and degrees. Fewer MA enrollees and higher proportions of female patients were seen for female PCPs' panels. Female PCPs' patients had better hemoglobin A1c control, eye examination receipt, and composite quality scores when comparing male and female PCPs in the same practice groups, as well as fewer emergency department visits and hospitalizations; worse provider rating scores were seen for women. Female PCPs had similar and more earnings to male PCPs via fee-for-service and value-based payment, respectively.
"These results support the possibility that growing use of value-based payment might improve the gender wage gap and better reward high-quality care," the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to F-Prime; several authors disclosed ties to agilon.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Read this next
Cancer Survival Lower in Rural Areas
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2025 -- Five-year cancer survival rates for each stage of cancer (localized, regional, and distant) is lower in nonmetropolitan areas for Black and White...
Loss of Smell May Linger After COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2025 -- Self-reported change or loss in smell or taste is an accurate signal of verified hyposmia after COVID-19, although there is also a high rate of hyposmia...
Elderly Patients Benefit From Screening Mammography
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2025 -- Patients with breast cancer diagnosed at 80 years of age or older who received screening mammography present with earlier-stage disease and have better...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.