Private equity changes in primary care and Medicare outcomes
Official title: Private Equity Acquisitions in Primary Care: Effects on the Medicare Program
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11423388 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how ownership of primary care practices by private equity firms may affect care quality and Medicare costs for people with chronic diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $387,160 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HS029467-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423388 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Medicare beneficiaries with chronic diseases who receive primary care from practices that have been acquired by private equity firms or from similar non-PE practices for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
Patients treated at PE-acquired practices without measurable changes in utilization or quality within the study period may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will link data from private equity ownership of primary care practices with Medicare claim and encounter data from 2016–2024 to compare patients treated before and after PE acquisitions. Using a quasi-experimental event-study design, they will look at changes in utilization, quality, and costs among beneficiaries seen at PE-acquired practices versus similar non-PE practices. The focus is on Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage populations, with attention to chronic disease management and potential overuse or wasteful services. Results could reveal how ownership structures influence care delivery for millions of Medicare beneficiaries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could inform policy and provider strategies to safeguard high-quality, cost-effective care for Medicare patients with chronic diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in other settings show higher prices and spending with PE ownership, but effects on primary care and Medicare outcomes are not yet clear.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Jane Mingjia — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Jane Mingjia
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.