Survey shows critical need to preserve physician leadership in care decisions for Americans’ health

BOSTON, October 28, 2025 — The Physicians Foundation today announced findings from its 2025 Survey on Physician Autonomy and Impact on Patient Care, revealing a stark new reality: when physicians lose control over how they practice medicine—known as the loss of physician autonomy—patients pay the price. The survey of more than 1,000 U.S. physicians shows that physicians overwhelmingly view the loss of autonomy as a major threat to the workforce and a key driver of worsening access to care.

The U.S. health care system is being reshaped by rapid healthcare consolidation—mergers, acquisitions and private equity funding—that too often sideline physicians from critical decisions and compromise timely, affordable, high‑quality patient care. While consolidation is reported to offer benefits such as increased efficiency and scale, improved care coordination, and expanded services, survey findings show that this consolidation is also negatively impacting physicians who feel a loss of autonomy and control over their own jobs and ultimately patient care.

Key findings underscore the impact on patients and the physician workforce:

• Physicians identify third‑party practice acquisition (83%) and rapid consolidation (74%) as major contributors to autonomy loss, and more than seven in ten (75%) support stronger state oversight to safeguard physician leadership in care decisions.
• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of physicians say limits on autonomy negatively affect the quality and timeliness of patient care, and more than half (57%) report declines in patient satisfaction.
• About three-quarters (73%) report autonomy limits are increasing their stress, with more than four in ten (45%) indicating these pressures are pushing them toward career changes or earlier retirement.
• Nine in ten (91%) physicians say the loss of autonomy is a major threat to U.S. medicine and will worsen the physician shortage; seven in ten (71%) know colleagues who have already left the profession due to loss of autonomy.

“Patients are paying the price when physicians lose the ability to make timely, independent decisions in partnership with those they serve,” said Gary Price, MD, president of The Physicians Foundation. “Longer waits, shorter visits and more fragmented care are becoming the norm, not the exception. Our findings make clear that restoring physician autonomy is not about professional preference—it’s about protecting access, safety and outcomes for patients.”

According to the survey, autonomy erosion is closely tied to operational realities that patients feel every day: delayed treatments, reduced time with physicians, and care that is less tailored to individual needs. Physicians also report significant personal stress under current conditions, raising concerns about continuity of care and worsening staff shortages if more physicians reduce hours, change careers or retire early. Preserving physician leadership in care decisions—through transparency, oversight, and safeguards that protect autonomy—is essential to maintain personalized, patient‑centered care and prevent further erosion of access and satisfaction.

“The message from physicians is unequivocal: interference in clinical decision-making is degrading care quality and driving clinicians out of practice,” said Bob Seligson, CEO, The Physicians Foundation. “This is why protecting physician autonomy must be a priority. Every layer of interference significantly impacts the doctor-patient relationship. If we want a healthcare system that’s effective, efficient and centered on patients, we must preserve physicians’ ability to lead care decisions without third-party control.”

The Physicians Foundation is advancing research to help protect the patient-physician relationship, preserve physician autonomy and improve overall physician wellbeing. Read the full survey results and methodology here.

About The Physicians Foundation

The Physicians Foundation is a public charity seeking to advance the work of practicing physicians and improve patient access to high-quality, cost-efficient care. As the U.S. health care system continues to evolve, The Physicians Foundation is steadfast in strengthening the physician-patient relationship, supporting medical practices’ sustainability and helping physicians navigate the changing health care system. The Physicians Foundation pursues its mission through research, education and innovative grant making that improves physician wellbeing, strengthens physician leadership, addresses drivers of health and lifts physician perspectives. For more information, visit www.physiciansfoundation.org

About The Physicians Foundation’s 2025 Survey of America’s Physicians on Physician Autonomy

Each year, The Physicians Foundation assesses physician sentiment surrounding the practice environment and patient care, so we can understand where things stand and drive change to enhance physician practice and improve patient health outcomes. In 2025, the Foundation conducted an online survey of 1,000+ U.S. physicians on the current state of physician practice environments to gauge perceptions surrounding physician autonomy, identify potential health care challenges including the impact of corporate policies/insurance regulations, who were derived from Medscape’s proprietary database. The survey was fielded from May 21 – May 29, 2025.