POLICY BRIEF Patients With High-Cost Chronic Conditions Rely Heavily on Primary Care Physicians

Today’s US physician workforce principally comprises specialists trained in the care of specific chronic conditions in the outpatient setting. However, a majority of patients seeking care for most of 14 high-cost chronic conditions, for example hypertension, were more likely to see a primary care physician than a specialist physician (69 % vs. 24%, respectively). (J Am Board Fam Med 2014;27:11–12.