Myth: Most physicians prefer fee-for-service payments

In contrast to conventional wisdom that physicians prefer only fee-for-service, research shows that a growing number of Canadian physicians are interested in alternative payment models. According to the National Physician Survey (the largest survey of Canadian doctors), the percentage preferring fee-for-service as their sole source of income declined from 50% in 1995[iv] to 28% in 2004[v] and to 23% in 2007.[vi] The preference for non-fee-for-service is even more pronounced among female physicians, only 18% of whom preferred fee-for-service compared to 26% of their male colleagues. Age also appears to be a factor: support for fee-for-service ranged from a high of 41% among physicians aged 65 or older to a low of 17% among physicians under 35.[vi] As older, predominantly male, cohorts of physicians retire, support for fee-for-service as the sole source of income is expected to fall even more rapidly.