The impact of tiered physician networks on patient choices.

Abstract

Patients exhibited strong loyalty to their physicians. There was no impact of tiering on whether patients decided to switch away from a physician who they'd seen previously. (2) Tiering affected the choices of patients who were selecting new physicians. When patients visited a doctor for the first time, they were less likely to choose doctors in the bottom or non-preferred tier. (3) Patients of the lowest-ranked physicians were more likely to switch health plans following the introduction of tiered networks.