Patient Advocacy - US Women's Health Alliance

Why Independent Women’s Healthcare Matters

Your healthcare choices are changing.
Here’s what every woman should know.

Across the United States, millions of women receive care from physicians who own and lead their own medical practices. These independent OB/GYN practices allow doctors to focus on what matters most by providing personalized, patient-centered care within the communities they serve.

But today, many of these practices are disappearing as hospitals, large health systems, and insurance companies acquire more physician practices. These changes can affect the cost of care, the choices available to patients, and the overall healthcare experience.

Understanding whether your care comes from an independent physician-owned practice or a hospital-owned facility helps you make informed decisions about your healthcare. At the U.S. Women’s Health Alliance (USWHA), we support independent OB/ GYN physicians who are committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care at lower costs for women and families across the nation.

Why Independent Medical
Practices Matter to Patients

Independent physician practices play an important role in maintaining accessible and affordable healthcare.

Women who receive care from independent practices often benefit from:

More personalized care and stronger doctor–patient relationships

Greater choice in where they receive care vs. remaining in one system

Lower healthcare costs for many services

Local practices rooted in their communities

Maintaining a balance between independent practices and larger health systems helps ensure patients continue to have real choices in their healthcare. The more hospitals and health systems acquire private practices, patients are left with little choice.

Women who receive care from independent practices often benefit from:

More personalized care and stronger doctor–patient relationships

Greater choice in where they receive care vs. remaining in one system

Lower healthcare costs for many services

Local practices rooted in their communities

Maintaining a balance between independent practices and larger health systems helps ensure patients continue to have real choices in their healthcare. The more hospitals and health systems acquire private practices, patients are left with little choice.

Independent Care vs. Hospital-Owned Care

Independent Practice

Physician-led, patient-centered care

Community-based care

Lower costs and more transparent fees

More flexibility

for patients

Hospital-Owned Practice

Corporate influence on treatment decisions

System-based care

15-30% higher costs

Standardized system processes

Independent Care vs. Hospital-Owned Care

Independent Practice

Physician-led, patient-centered care

Community-based care

Lower costs and more transparent fees

More flexibility

for patients

Hospital-Owned Practice

Corporate influence on treatment decisions

System-based care

15-30% higher costs

Standardized system processes

What Is an Independent, Physician-Owned Practice?

An independent or private medical practice is one where the physicians who care for patients also own and lead the practice.

This means physicians and their teams make decisions about:

• How care is delivered
• How much time physicians spend with patients
• Who they refer patients to throughout the medical community
• How the practice serves its community

Because physicians lead both the medical and operational decisions, independent practices can focus on providing high-quality care that prioritizes patient needs. Many OB/GYN physicians across the country continue to choose this model because it allows them to build long-term relationships with the women and families they care for.

What’s Happening to Independent Physician Practices?

Across the United States, the healthcare landscape has been changing rapidly. Over the past decade, more physician practices have been acquired by hospitals, insurance companies and large healthcare systems. As a result, fewer practices remain independently owned.

Several factors contribute to this shift:

Increasing regulatory and administrative requirements for smaller practices
Payment policies that favor hospital-owned facilities
Large healthcare systems and insurance companies purchasing local physician offices

As more practices are absorbed into larger systems, many communities are left with fewer independent options for care. Maintaining a healthy balance between independent practices and hospital systems helps preserve patient choice, fair competition, and accessible care.

What Happens When Hospitals Acquire Physician Practices

2012

2019

2023

Majority

Independent

39%

Hospital-owned

59%

Hospital-owned

What Happens When Hospitals Acquire Physician Practices

2012

Majority

Independent

2019

39%

Hospital-owned

2023

59%

Hospital-owned

How This Affects
Your Healthcare

The decline of independent medical practices can directly impact how women receive care. Here are several ways patients may experience these changes.

1. Fewer Choices for Care

Independent practices provide options for patients. When hospitals acquire physician practices, many communities may be left with fewer choices about where to receive care.

2. Less Personalized Care

Independent physicians often have greater flexibility to spend time with patients and tailor care to individual needs. In larger healthcare systems, physicians may face more administrative demands that can limit the time they spend with patients.

3. Higher Costs for
the Same Services

Research shows that medical services delivered through hospital-owned facilities often cost 15-30% more than the same services performed in independent practices. These differences can lead to higher out-of-pocket costs and higher insurance premiums for patients.

4. Loss of Community-Based Practices

Many independent practices are deeply connected to the communities they serve. When they close or are absorbed into larger systems, patients may lose convenient access to local care and long-standing relationships with trusted physicians.

5. Decisions Made Farther From Patients

In independent practices, physicians typically make both clinical and operational decisions based on what is best for the patient. In larger healthcare systems, many decisions are made by corporate administrators or health system leadership which restrict patients to their own system for further care.

Healthcare Costs & Access: What Research Shows

Research from multiple healthcare policy studies has examined how costs and access change when physician practices are acquired by hospitals.

Key findings include:

Healthcare prices increase about 14% on average after hospitals acquire physician practices

In some markets, prices have increased more than 30% following these acquisitions

Hospital-owned practices can charge additional facility fees for services delivered in outpatient settings

Hospital or corporate ownership of physician practices grew from 39% to 59% between 2019 and 2023

As of 2024, more than 55% of physicians are now hospital-employed

Many studies have found that independent, office-based care can provide high-quality services at lower cost and closer to home for patients.

What Happens When Hospitals Acquire Physician Practices

Acquisition

Facility
Fees

Higher
Prices

Less
Choice

Bottom Line: Independent physician practices offer more affordable, personalized, and accessible healthcare while maintaining high-quality standards and fostering stronger doctor-patient relationships.

How Patients Can Help Protect Access to Independent Care

3 Powerful Ways to
Make a Difference.

1 – Learn Where Your Care Comes From

Ask whether your healthcare providers are part of a physician-owned practice or a hospital system. Understanding how your care is delivered helps you make informed decisions about your healthcare.

2 – Spread the Word

Share this website with other women in your community or connections across the country so they can also be educated on what is happening.

3 – Share Your Experience

If hospital consolidation has affected the cost, access, or quality of your healthcare, sharing your story can help policymakers and healthcare leaders better understand the impact on patients.

If you would like to share your experience with the U.S. Women’s Health Alliance, please complete the short form.

Your information will only be used to provide updates and

opportunities to share your experience. Your privacy is important to us.

About the U.S. Women’s Health Alliance

The U.S. Women’s Health Alliance (USWHA) is a national network of independent physician practices dedicated to protecting and advancing high-quality, affordable women’s healthcare.

Founded in 2012, USWHA represents:

5,800

Providers

3,500

OB/GYNs

8 million

Women

Practices in

37 States

& Washington, D.C.,
and growing!

Together, these physicians are committed to ensuring women continue to have access to trusted doctors, personalized care, and real choices in their healthcare. Learn more!

Our Commitment to Women’s Healthcare

At the U.S. Women’s Health Alliance, we believe every woman should have access to:

High-quality Healthcare

The Freedom to Choose the Physician Who is Right for Her

Affordable Care Options

Independent OB/GYN practices are an essential part of that future. By working together with physicians, patients, and communities, we can ensure women across the United States continue to benefit from strong provider–patient relationships and accessible healthcare choices.

Our Commitment to Women’s Healthcare

At the U.S. Women’s Health Alliance, we believe every woman should have access to:

High-quality Healthcare

The Freedom to Choose the Physician Who is Right for Her

Affordable Care Options

Independent OB/GYN practices are an essential part of that future. By working together with physicians, patients, and communities, we can ensure women across the United States continue to benefit from strong provider–patient relationships and accessible healthcare choices.