Future considerations for clinical dermatology in the setting of 21st century American policy reform: corporatization and the rise of private equity in dermatology

Within the last two decades, for-profit financial groups have become increasingly involved in health care. Outlier dermatology practices with high volumes of well-reimbursed procedures are attractive to consolidation backed by private equity. With fewer choices for independent or group private practice, junior dermatologists are increasingly seeking employment without ownership in private equity-backed corporate groups, whose primary fiscal responsibility lies with investors. Medicare's response to corporatization and consolidation has already changed the practice of dermatopathology.