Physician visits to nursing homes were studied based on a national survey of private practice physicians. Only 28% of the sample had visited nursing homes during the previous week, but almost one-half of general practitioners, internists, and cardiologists had made at least one visit. Physicians visiting nursing homes were as well trained as those who did not but were more likely to be older and located in rural areas. Large increases in reimbursement rates may be necessary to encourage more physicians to treat nursing home patients.