Through the provision of workplace health benefits, employers not only attract high-quality employees, but also play a role in facilitating primary care use. Coverage of primary care through employment-based health plans helps employees stay healthy and can reduce the risk of serious health problems. This week’s Fast Fact reports on the changing nature of primary care during the past nine years.
Figure 2 Provider Types for a Primary Care Office Visit, 2013 –2021 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 November 30, 2023, #487 The Changing Nature of Primary Care Visits Through the provision of workplace health benefits, employers not only attract high-quality employees, but also play a role in facilitating primary care use. Coverage of primary care through employment-based health plans helps employees stay healthy and can reduce the risk of serious health problems that can lead to high health care costs and lost productivity. A recent Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) report found that the nature of primary care office visits has been changing in recent years. Among users of primary care, 95 –97 percent utilized it in an office setting prior to 2020, but only 86 percent did so from 2020 –2021 as employees began using telemedicine (7 –8 percent) and urgent care clinics (3 –4 percent) F a m i l y P r a c t i c e I n t e r n a l Me d i c i n e Me d i c a l D o c t o r P h y s i c i a n N u r s e P r a c t i t i o n e r with greater frequency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A s s i s t a n t Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates based on administrative enrollment and claims data. Figure 1 Most Common Place of Service for a Primary Care Visit, 2013 –2021 About EBRI: The Employee Benefit Research Institute is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit research institute 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 based in Washington, D.C., that focuses on health, savings, retirement, and economic security issues. EBRI does not lobby and does not take policy positions. The work of EBRI is made possible by funding from its mem bers and sponsors, which include a broad range of public and private organizations. For more information, visit www.ebri.org. A Thank You to Our Funders: This study was conducted through the EBRI Center for Research on Health Benefits Innovation (EBRI CRHBI), with the funding support of the following organizations: Aon, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, ICUBA, JP Morgan Chase, Pfizer, and PhRMA. ### O f f i c e O u t p a t i e n t H o s p i t a l - O n U r g e n t C a r e F a c i l i t y T e l e h e a t h C a m p u s Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates based on administrative enrollment and claims data. There has been a consistent downward trend in the share of employees whose primary care office visits are at a general/family practice, falling from 42 percent in 2013 to 37 percent in 2021. In addition, primary care office visits at internal medicine providers have fallen from 21 percent in 2013 to 17 percent in 2021. Finally, provision of primary care by a medical doctor has fallen from 9 percent in 2013 to 4 percent in 2021. In contrast, primary care provision by nurse practitioners and physician assistants has risen over time. The share of employees whose primary care office visits have been with a physician assistant rose from 2 percent in 2013 to 6 percent in 2021. The corresponding change for nurse practitioners has been from 4 percent in 2013 to 16 percent in 2021. EBRI on Twitter @EBRI or twitter.com/EBRI LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/employee-benefit-research-institute EBRI on Twitter: @EBRI or twitter.com/EBRI LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/employee-benefit-research-institute © 2023, Employee Benefit Research Institute, 901 D St. SW, Suite 802, Washington, DC 20024, 202/659-0670 | ebri.org 2 97% 97% 42% 97% 43% 97% 42% 96% 42% 41% 96% 40% 95% 39% 86% 39% 86% 37% 21% 1% 21% 1% 21% 1% 21% 20% 1% 20% 1% 19% 1% 18% 2% 17% 2% 2% 9% 6% 5% 1% 5% 1% 5% 5% 1% 4% 1% 4% 1% 4% 2% 2% 2% 3% 2% 4% 2% 3% 3% 4% 0% 5% 0% 5% 0% 6% 0% 0% 4% 0% 4% 0% 5% 8% 5% 7% 7% 8% 10% 13% 16%