Looking for freelance or contract work as a primary care physician in Michigan? Whether you want to supplement your income or transition to independent practice, Michigan offers several high-paying options. Here's how the top opportunities compare.
A Primary Care Physician reviews medical records, provides expert opinions on standard of care, and may testify in legal proceedings related to medical malpractice or personal injury cases. This work involves analyzing clinical documentation and communicating findings to attorneys or courts.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Michigan notes: Detroit/Wayne County active litigation market; Western MI rates closer to Midwest averages; FM $275-$375/hr; IM $375-$475/hr; Trial testimony $450-$600/hr; Deposition $400-$475/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-8 weeks
A Primary Care Physician provides strategic advice to healthcare organizations, insurance companies, or pharmaceutical firms on clinical operations, quality improvement, or product development. Work involves meetings, research, and recommendations rather than direct patient care.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Michigan notes: Proximity to major health systems (Michigan Medicine, Beaumont/Corewell Health) creates consulting opportunities; Expert network calls $200-$450/hr; Pharma advisory boards $2K-$4K/meeting; Health system consulting $150-$300/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-12 weeks
Healthcare AI companies hire primary care physician professionals to review, annotate, and validate training data for medical AI systems. Work involves ehr summarization and clinical reasoning validation — tasks like symptom checker validation, diagnostic reasoning evaluation, clinical note qa, documentation assessment.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Michigan notes: Fully remote — available regardless of state. Pay based on specialty expertise, not location.
Typical start timeline: 1-2 weeks
Getting started: Join the expert community and make a free profile on Folio to browse current primary care physician AI training projects.
A Primary Care Physician provides temporary medical services at healthcare facilities for specified periods, ranging from days to months. The physician works as an independent contractor, filling staffing gaps while maintaining clinical autonomy in patient care delivery.
Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer
Michigan notes: Rural MI (Upper Peninsula, Northern MI) +25-30% premium; Detroit/Ann Arbor/Grand Rapids metro at base; MI among top 10 paying locum states; FM $120-$145/hr; IM $120-$145/hr; Hospitalist $155-$185/hr; MI ranks 118% above national median for locums; Weekend/holiday +20-30%
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks
A Primary Care Physician provides remote patient consultations and medical care through digital platforms, managing acute and chronic conditions without in-person visits. This role typically involves scheduled virtual appointments with established or new patient populations.
Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer
Michigan notes: No geographic variation (remote); MI license required; Rural areas drive telehealth utilization; Primary care $70-$130/hr; Psychiatry $140-$210/hr; Moderate telehealth demand; Upper Peninsula underserved
Typical start timeline: 2-4 weeks
A Primary Care Physician reviews patient medical records to assess quality of care, appropriateness of treatment, and compliance with clinical guidelines for insurance companies or healthcare organizations. This administrative work supports utilization management and quality assurance programs.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Michigan notes: Primarily remote; Auto-industry related workers' comp and disability review creates additional UR demand; Contract UR $80-$110/hr; Full-time UR roles $95-$135/hr; Complex reviews $120-$165/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks
Q: What are the highest-paying freelance options for primary care physicians in Michigan?
A: Based on current market data, the top 3 are: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal Consulting ($275-$550/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($150-$450/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$300/hr).
Q: Which freelance options for primary care physicians don't require malpractice insurance?
A: 4 options don't require malpractice insurance: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal Consulting ($275-$550/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($150-$450/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$300/hr), Chart Review / Utilization Review ($80-$165/hr). This can save $15-$40K annually compared to options requiring coverage.
Q: Can primary care physicians work remotely in Michigan?
A: Yes, 5 options are fully or partially remote: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal Consulting ($275-$550/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($150-$450/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$300/hr), Telemedicine / Telehealth ($70-$165/hr), Chart Review / Utilization Review ($80-$165/hr).
Q: What Michigan license do primary care physicians need for freelance work?
A: An active Michigan license from Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL), Michigan Board of Medicine is required for most clinical freelance options.
Q: How quickly can primary care physicians start freelance work?
A: Timeline varies by option: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal Consulting typically takes 4-8 weeks, while Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards typically takes 4-12 weeks, while AI Training & Annotation typically takes 1-2 weeks.
Q: What's the pay range for primary care physicians doing AI training work?
A: AI training pays $125-$300/hour for primary care physicians, varying by experience level and project complexity. No malpractice insurance required.
Folio connects Michigan primary care physicians with frontier research labs and healthcare AI companies looking for clinical expertise. The platform vets AI companies for project quality, handles contracting and payment, and matches projects to your area of expertise.
Typical timeline:
- Application: 3 minutes
- Credential review: 2-3 business days
- Platform orientation: 1 hour
- First project: 3-7 days from application
Current project focus (February 2026): Symptom checker validation, diagnostic reasoning evaluation, clinical note QA, documentation assessment
Most primary care physicians start with 5-10 hours weekly, then scale based on preference. No minimum commitment.
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Questions? Email experts@folioworks.com
