Data Report: 2016 Indiana Physician Licensure Survey

Abstract

The Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, formerly called the Bowen Research Center, has a rich history of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating health workforce data and research for the State of Indiana. These health workforce data are important to informing health workforce policy and planning efforts through the State. Although the health workforce is comprised of a myriad of health professionals, the physician workforce may be regarded as the backbone of the healthcare system, which makes collecting and disseminating timely data on the supply and distribution of Indiana’s physician workforce critical to informing any health workforce policy or planning efforts. The 2016 Indiana Physician Licensure Survey Data Report presents key information and data collected from the physician re-licensure survey administered by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) during physicians’ biennial license renewal. As of 2015, 26,536 physicians were licensed to practice in the State of Indiana. Of these, 10,057 physicians reported having an Indiana practice address. The majority of Indiana physicians reported having only one practice location in the state. Consistent with national trends, Indiana’s physicians are concentrated in populous, urban areas. In addition to understanding the geographic distribution of this workforce, practice characteristics are critical to determining capacity at the community level. A total of 6,285 (62%) physicians reported working 37 hours or more per week in direct patient care. Furthermore, roughly 52% of the physician workforce reported not offering a sliding fee scale. Also, 8.5% of Indiana physicians reported not accepting Medicaid. This report details important demographic and practice characteristics for the physician workforce. The report also examines these data for the primary care physician workforce and the psychiatric workforce. The 2015 Indiana Physician Licensure Survey Data Report presents a snapshot of data on the physician workforce in order to provide stakeholders with information needed to improve the quality and accessibility of health care for Indiana residents through policy making, workforce development, and resource allocation.