Physician acquisitions are up, raising questions about costs and care (Advisory Board)

The GAO reports that physician consolidation is accelerating, with almost half of U.S. doctors now tied to hospital systems—up from less than a third in 2012. While this shift gives practices more negotiating leverage and access to resources, it also fuels concerns about competition, rising costs, and shrinking independence. Research shows higher spending per patient without clear quality gains, leaving healthcare leaders to ask: is consolidation driving efficiency or simply inflating the bill?