New National Study Finds Doctors Paid Less for Treating Black and Hispanic Patients

Physicians receive less pay for outpatient care provided to Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients than for white patients, according to a new national study from LDI Senior Fellows Aaron Schwartz and David Asch, and LDI Executive Director Rachel M. Werner. The payment difference was even more pronounced for pediatric visits. Patients’ health insurance was a key factor in the disparities. 

“To put it plainly, doctors in the U.S. get paid more for taking care of white patients than for taking care of non-white patients,” said Asch. “Many factors explain that difference, but no factors justify it. Sometimes a single finding encapsulates the problem.”