Markets and Competition
Over 70% of U.S. physicians are now employed by corporate entities, health systems, or private equity–backed firms. These shifts are reshaping how care is delivered, priced, and accessed.
Dive into our work on markets and competition — from academic research to policy briefs and real-world commentary.
Markets and Competition
Over 70% of U.S. physicians are now employed by corporate entities, health systems, or private equity–backed firms. These shifts are reshaping how care is delivered, priced, and accessed.
About the Markets and Competition Lab
The Markets and Competition Lab examines how evolving ownership models and financial incentives influence health care prices, quality, and market structure. Ongoing projects span private equity investment, vertical integration, hospital price regulation, and insurer market dynamics. Our research bridges economics, law, and policy to identify strategies that maintain a competitive and equitable health care system.
The Big Questions
- How can states and the federal government control health care spending without compromising access?
- What are the trends in the corporatization of medicine, and who are the main financial players?
- How do ownership changes affect quality, workforce stability, and patient outcomes?
- What policies can effectively address rising health care consolidation?
Featured Work
Recent Publications
- Real-World Brinkmanship In Hospital-Insurer Negotiations
- Hospital add-on payments are associated with variation in Medicare and commercial payments
- Rhode Island Affordability Standards and Hospital-Affiliated Clinicians’ Professional Fees
- Insurers’ Acquisition Of Ambulatory Surgery Centers Was Not Associated With Changes In Performance, 2013–21
- Most Hospitals With Vertically Integrated MA Plans Charge Similar Prices To Affiliated And Unaffiliated Plans
- Does advertising expand the market for hospital services? Evidence from Medicare
Related Policy Materials
- Updated Analysis of the Revised Proposed Combination Between WakeMed Health & Hospitals and Atrium Health
- 2026 State End of Session Recap: State Action on Healthcare Affordability and Consolidation
- Testimony: Addressing Health Care Affordability Through Transparency
- Public Comment to the Health Care Affordability and Mitigation Work Group, National Association of Insurance Commissioners
- Testimony: The Impact of Hospital Markets on Health Care Affordability for Texans
- Response to the Senate Finance Committee’s Request for Information on Commonsense Policy Options to Lower Drug Prices for Patients
Private Equity State Tracker
The Private Equity State Tracker allows users to explore trends in private equity acquisitions in health care over time.
Visualizing the Impact of the Hospital Payment Caps
The Hospital Payment Cap Simulator provides anyone from policymakers to researchers with insights into how much state employee plans across the US could save from hospital payment caps and the impact on commercial hospital operating margins.
From Statehouses to Capitol Hill
Turning Evidence Into Policy
Experts
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Christopher M. Whaley Ph.D.
Associate Director for the Center for Advancing Health Policy Through Research, Markets and Competition Lab Lead, Associate Professor of Health Services, Policy & Practice -
Daniel Arnold Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist -
Jason Buxbaum Ph.D., MHSA
Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy & Practice -
Roslyn C. Murray Ph.D., MPP
Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy & Practice -
Yashaswini Singh Ph.D.
Thomas J. and Alice M. Tisch Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice -
Xiaoxi Zhao Ph.D.
Lead Research Scientist
Our funders:
Dive into our work on markets and competition — from academic research to policy briefs and real-world commentary.