The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) has just released a series of average payments per fee-for-service physician. These data, derived from its National Physician Data Base and based on gross billings, are often misinterpreted by both media and the public. Although no data on what it costs these physicians to operate their practices are available from CIHI, the CMA regularly collects information about overhead costs through its Physician Resource Questionnaire. For the 1997 survey, data at the national level are accurate within +/- 1.7%, 19 times out of 20.
The survey shows that overhead expenses for all physicians average 34%, ranging from an estimated 37% for family physicians to 30% for specialists. Estimated net incomes (before taxes) were $111 630 for family physicians and $167 525 for specialists.
In the CMA's 2000 Physician Resource Questionnaire, 53% of respondents reported that their overhead expenses had increased during the last year. More than half (55%) reported an increased workload, and of those less than one-quarter (24%) said there was a corresponding increase in net income. In fact, 31% said their workload had increased but their net income had decreased. —