Looking for freelance or contract work as a primary care physician in New York? Whether you want to supplement your income or transition to independent practice, New York offers several high-paying options. Here's how the top opportunities compare.
Primary Care Physicians review medical records, provide expert opinions on standard of care, and testify in legal cases involving personal injury, malpractice, or disability claims. Work involves preparing detailed reports and depositions based on primary care expertise in diagnosis and treatment. Assignments are project-based, often sourced through legal firms or expert networks.
Malpractice Insurance: No
New York notes: NYC litigation market commands highest rates; Upstate NY rates closer to national averages; FM $340-$450/hr; IM $400-$500/hr; Trial testimony $500-$750/hr; Deposition $450-$500/hr; NYC medical malpractice cases command premium rates
Typical start timeline: 1-4 weeks
Primary Care Physicians advise healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies, or policy groups on clinical guidelines, population health strategies, and service delivery improvements. Participation in advisory boards involves attending meetings to review data, provide feedback, and contribute to guideline development. Roles leverage frontline primary care insights for strategic recommendations.
Malpractice Insurance: No
New York notes: NYC/NJ pharma corridor creates premium demand; academic medical center KOL rates higher; Expert network calls $250-$600/hr; Pharma/biotech advisory boards $2K-$5K/meeting; NYC proximity to pharma HQs (NJ corridor) increases opportunities
Typical start timeline: 4-8 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
New York 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.
Primary Care Physicians conduct virtual patient consultations, diagnose common ailments, prescribe medications, and manage follow-ups via video or phone from remote locations. Work focuses on primary care issues like acute illnesses, preventive care, and chronic disease monitoring without in-person exams. Platforms connect physicians to patients across New York, often in urgent or routine care scenarios.
Malpractice Insurance: Yes ($2,000-$5,000/year)
New York notes: No geographic variation (remote); NY ranks among top-paying telemedicine states; Ryan Haight Act compliance required; Primary care $80-$150/hr; Psychiatry $150-$250/hr; NY telemedicine salaries among highest nationally (avg $101.49/hr full-time equiv)
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks
Primary Care Physicians examine patient charts for medical necessity, coding accuracy, quality of care, and compliance with insurance guidelines. Work supports utilization management by approving or denying services based on evidence-based criteria in primary care contexts. Assignments are typically volume-based for insurers or quality organizations.
Malpractice Insurance: No
New York notes: Primarily remote; NY high managed care penetration; large Medicaid managed care population; Contract UR $85-$125/hr; Full-time UR physician $110-$150/hr; Complex case review $150-$200/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks
Primary Care Physicians fill temporary staffing gaps in clinics or hospitals, providing routine patient care, evaluations, and management of chronic conditions on a short-term or per diem basis. Assignments typically involve seeing 8-20 patients per day in outpatient settings with fixed weekly hours like Monday to Friday. Agencies handle logistics including travel and housing for multi-day blocks.
Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer
New York notes: NYC/Long Island/Westchester premium +10-15%; Upstate NY (rural) +20-25% over base; High cost of living offset by higher rates; FM $120-$145/hr; IM $120-$145/hr; Hospitalist $170-$190/hr; NYC metro +10-15% premium; Weekend/holiday +20-30%
Typical start timeline: 4-12 weeks
Q: What are the highest-paying freelance options for primary care physicians in New York?
A: Based on current market data, the top 3 are: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal Consulting ($350-$750/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($200-$600/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 ($350-$750/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($200-$600/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$300/hr), Chart Review / Utilization Review ($85-$200/hr). This can save $20-$50K annually compared to options requiring coverage.
Q: Can primary care physicians work remotely in New York?
A: Yes, 5 options are fully or partially remote: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal Consulting ($350-$750/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($200-$600/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$300/hr), Telemedicine / Telehealth ($80-$200/hr), Chart Review / Utilization Review ($85-$200/hr).
Q: What New York license do primary care physicians need for freelance work?
A: An active New York license from New York State Education Department Office of the Professions 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 1-4 weeks, while Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards typically takes 4-8 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 New York 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
