Journal of general internal medicine
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Prior literature suggests that the fragmented U.S. health care system places a large administrative burden on physicians. Less is known about how this burden varies with physician contracting practices. ⋯ Contracting opportunities confer significant benefits on physicians, although they do add modest costs in terms of time spent outside patient care and lower adequacy of time with patients. Simplifications that reduce the administrative burden of contracting may improve care by optimizing allocation of physician effort.