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54 Which Specialists Has the ACA Helped Most? 15 Statistics By Laura Dyrda T he ACA and health insurance exchanges have had varying im- pact on specialist patient volume and income. Here are key com- parisons from the Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2017 showing who was impacted most by the ACA and who could lose in the event of repeal. Patient volume increase after the ACA: 1. ENT: 61 percent (up from 39 percent in 2016) 2. Gastroenterologist: 45 percent (up from 44 percent in 2016) 3. Ophthalmologists: 32 percent (up from 25 percent in 2016) 4. General surgeon: 31 percent (up from 28 percent in 2016) 5. Orthopedists: 29 percent (down from 30 percent in 2016) Participation in health insurance exchanges: 6. ENT: 46 percent (37 percent undecided) 7. Gastroenterologist: 44 percent (40 percent undecided) 8. General surgeon: 43 percent (35 percent undecided) 9. Ophthalmologists: 41 percent (30 percent undecided) 10. Orthopedists: 38 percent (36 percent undecided) Income increased from health insurance exchanges: 11. Gastroenterologist: 5 percent 12. General surgeon: 5 percent 13. Orthopedists: 5 percent 14. Ophthalmologists: 4 percent 15. ENT: 4 percent n Beware of These 5 Common Physician Investment Mistakes By Laura Dyrda M edscape recently published a report covering five common investing mistakes physicians make. 1. Partnering with colleagues on medical ven- tures. Physicians may get excited about a project or new technology in the medical field that could improve their practice without realizing that it isn't feasible or would be crushed by competition. For example, physicians have in- vested in businesses to start an HMO or other insurance organizations run by other physicians and lost their entire investments. Others invested in treatments that insurance companies wouldn't pay for. The article recommends get- ting a financial advisor involved early and to stay updated on the company once you have invested. 2. Jumping on a hot trend. Physicians reported investing in dot.com companies before the "tech bubble" burst or purchasing high-yield stocks right before they started do- ing poorly. Physician investors can avoid this fate with a diversified portfolio and setting targets for each allocation. 3. Investing in start-ups that don't get off the ground. Start- up projects might be half-developed ideas, lack financial backing or be a scam. Physicians also lend to friends and families for their projects, with new restaurants being par- ticularly popular. The article suggests doing due diligence on the project's finances and the principles' track records. Make sure there is a business plan and understand the ownership structure. 4. Investing in an easy money scam. The pitch might sound legitimate, but physicians are sometimes scammed into bad investments. Many respondents said they lost money on "low risk" oil and gas partnerships, life insurance poli- cies and funds that ended up being a Ponzi scheme. The article recommends if it seems too good to be true, it prob- ably is; physicians can also lean on financial advisors for guidance. 5. Real estate investments. Real estate investments can de- cline in value depending on the neighborhood or a down- turn in the real estate market. Physicians reported investing in vacation homes, oversized homes and lots that couldn't be built on. To realize a positive return on the investment, real estate investors do their homework to understand the local market and purchase at favorable prices for buyers. Make sure to have an accountant or financial planner re- view the deal. n