AMA: Physicians help boost the economy

by Lauren C. Williams on Mar 29, 2011

Doctors are a trillion-dollar crux of the national economy, according to the American Medical Association's latest report.

The AMA released a study March 23 that said office-based physicians contributed $1.4 trillion to economic activity and 4 million jobs in 2009.

The study said doctors furnish more funds for state economies than other industries including hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies by creating jobs, purchasing goods, and services and through taxes.

The study also found that doctors paid $833 billion in wages and benefits and nearly $100,000 in state taxes on average. California, New York, Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania had the most office-based physicians, respectively, and employing a total of almost 1.4 million jobs.

How did your state fair in economic contributions? See where your state ranked and view the rest of the AMA study here.

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