The COVID-19 Pandemic Led To A Large Decline In Physician Gross Revenue Across All Specialties In 2020.

US health care use declined during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Although utilization is known to have recovered in 2021 and 2022, it is unknown how revenue in 2020-22 varied by physician specialty and practice setting. This study linked medical claims from a large national federation of commercial health plans to physician and practice data to estimate pandemic-associated impacts on physician revenue (defined as payments to eligible physicians) by specialty and practice characteristics.

Spending patterns among commercially insured individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To describe trends in US health care spending in a large, national, and commercially insured population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study of commercially insured members enrolled between May 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021.

Methods: The study utilized a population-based sample of continuously enrolled members in a geographically diverse federation of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans across the United States.