Ancillary services are an important way for physicians to earn more revenue, especially with the rise of value-based care and declining reimbursement rates.But how much revenue are physicians earning through providing ancillaries, and how important are they for the bottom line?We asked physicians during our 90th annual Physician Report which ancillary services they provided and how much revenue they generated from them.Here's the list of the most popular ancillary services physicians used in 2018:Â
The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a diagnostic tool that is routinely used to assess the electrical and muscular functions of the heart.
Spirometry is a common medical test used to assess how well a patient's lungs work by measuring inhilation and exhilation.
Nutritional counseling and weight loss counseling is an extremely important service for many physician practices, as it is key to treating many chronic conditions including diabetes, cardiometabolic syndrome and more.
Many physicians practices provide radiology services not only to boost revenue but to improve patient experience. Providing in-house radiology means you won't need to refer a patient to an outside facility.
Contraceptive implants are a long-term birth control option for women. A contraceptive implant is a flexible plastic rod about the size of a matchstick that is placed under the skin of the upper arm.
A Holter monitor is a battery-operated portable device that measures and records your heart's activity (like an ECG) continuously for 24 to 48 hours or longer depending on the type of monitoring used.
Bone densitometry is similar to an X-ray that measures the density of bone. It is used primarily to detect osteopenia or osteoporosis, diseases in which the bone's mineral and density are low and the risk of fractures is increased, and thus is a good option for physicians looking for a service to provide to Medicare patients.
A stress test shows how a patient's heart works during physical activity. A stress test can reveal problems with blood flow within a patient's heart.
It is becoming more common for physician practices to hire or have a relationship with a pharmacist.
Aesthetic procedures have surged in popularity with patients, and primary care physicians can offer minimally invasive procedures such as botox, dermal fillers, and lasers for cosmetic use.
The opioid crisis has shined a light on the need for better pain management services, and primary care practices can provide a variety of services in this space, including counseling and alternative therapies such as accupuncture.
Urodynamic testing assesses how a patient's bladder and urethra are performing their job of storing and releasing urine.
Similar to pain management, addiction medicine is on the rise in physician practices due in large part to the the opioid crisis.
A sleep study is a non-invasive, overnight exam that allows physicians to monitor patients while they sleep to see what's happening in their brain and body. A common reason primary care physicians would order a sleep test is to detect for sleep apnea. There are take-home tests physicians can use to give to patients to collect the data.
Cardiologists lead the way when it comes to earning extra money through ancillary services. In fact, almost a quarter of their overall revenue comes from ancillaries. Internists and family doctors make the list, but still rank behind OB/GYNs.
The percentage of revenue for primary care physicians from ancillary services in 2018 was:
