Private Practice Acceptance of New Patients With Private Health Insurance Fell From 94% to 89% Between 2005 & 2008

From 2005 to 2008, the percentage of private practice physicians in the United States accepting new patients with private non-capitated health insurance dropped by five percentage points, from 94.2% in 2005 to 89.2% in 2008. Medicare acceptance rates over the period declined 2.5 percentage points, from 95.5% in 2005 to 93.0% in 2008. Across the three-year period, about 95% of office-based physicians (4,632 physicians) in the United States accepted new adult patients. Insurance Type 2005 New Patient Acceptance—Private Practice 2008 New Patient Acceptance—Private Practice Medicare 95.50% 92.90 . . .