Help AAFP Build Best-in-Class Compensation Comparison Tool

Your Survey Response Is Key to Telling FPs’ Payment Story

Aug. 30, 2023, News Staff — No other medical specialists treat a wider swath of patients and care for a broader range of conditions than family physicians. Not only do FPs save more lives than any other medical professionals, but they also rein in patients’ health care costs by providing continuous, comprehensive care that’s deeply rooted in the patient-physician relationship. 

What Questions Are on the Survey?

Because the career benchmark dashboard is intended to provide comprehensive information about salary, benefits and other components of family physicians’ practice environments, the survey asks for information about the following: 

• geographic location; 
• demographics;
• professional roles, practice setting and workforce experience; 
• pre-tax salary and bonus opportunities;
• benefits and paid time off;
• scheduling; and
• burnout.

You may find it helpful to reference your 2022 tax information or your employment contract to answer some of the survey questions, although you’re welcome to respond with your best estimate of your compensation and benefits. Completing the entire survey is more important than answering every question precisely.

How Will the Career Dashboard Help Me?

For new physicians, it’s important to know what to expect from early career jobs. When fully realized, the dashboard can help protect you from burnout by allowing you verify that the working conditions of your position are reasonable and equitable. It can also give you the confidence to demand a compensation package that recognizes the actual value you provide. 

In addition, because the ideal job involves so much more than a high salary, family physicians at all career stages and in every career path need to be able to see how different roles and settings might affect their well-being or the benefits they’re offered. So, whether you’re a recent residency grad or seasoned practice owner, an academic head or administrative leader, your survey input is critical to develop a robust tool that allows users to filter by demographic, geographic and other factors. The pay transparency the dashboard provides can also reveal bias and discrimination in compensation.

How Will It Help My Colleagues?

You’ve probably heard the adage “A rising tide lifts all boats.” The same is true in this instance: All family physicians deserve to benefit from new payment policies. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

“Although the AAFP regularly advocates to ensure fair payment for family medicine, increased payment for primary care doesn’t always translate to increased compensation in family physician employment contracts,” said Martin. “This dashboard can equip employed members with the information they need to successfully navigate contract negotiations.” 

In addition, by annually updating the dashboard, the AAFP will benefit from an ongoing stream of valuable data to use when calling on Congress, CMS and commercial insurers to move beyond the fee-for-service construct of payment for primary care to payment models that promote comprehensiveness and continuity, are agnostic to modality of care, and reduce administrative burden.

There is one caveat: The dashboard can be a powerful resource for members only if thousands of family physicians respond to the anonymous survey. So, share it with your FP colleagues and in your social networks. We’ve made it easy for you.

“No single strategic objective is more important to building a primary care-centric health care system than payment reform that benefits family physicians,” said Martin. “This tool can augment the progress we have made to advance family medicine and build a better health care system that is foundational in primary care.”