What is an independent practice association?
An independent practice association (IPA) is a group of independent physicians who work together to improve efficiency and obtain contracts with employers and health plans. An IPA allows physicians to remain independent while still collaborating with other doctors to achieve best practices and negotiate with insurers as a group.1
But the percentage of physicians who have independent private practices has declined in recent years: 60% of physicians had an independent practice in 2012, and that had dropped to only 47% by 2022. Physicians are increasingly opting to work for a hospital system, insurer, or private equity firm, rather than running an independent practice.2
Footnotes
- "Independent Physician Associations (IPAs) Definition" American Academy of Family Physicians. Accessed Oct. 11, 2024 ⤶
- "Are independent physician groups viable in the long run?" Definitive Healthcare. Jan. 8, 2024 ⤶
