Disparities in remuneration between primary care and other physician specialties may impede health care reform by undermining the sustainability of a primary care workforce. Previous studies have compared annual incomes across specialties unadjusted for work hours. Wage (earnings-per-hour) comparisons could better inform the physician payment debate.
Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, USA. pleigh@ucdavis.edu