Overview
An appropriate supply of well-educated and trained physicians — both in specialty and primary care — is
essential to ensure access to quality health care services for all Americans. Unfortunately, the nation is facing an
acute shortage of physicians, due to an aging population and
the expansion of health insurance coverage through the
Affordable Care Act (ACA). New research from the
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) continues
to point to a severe shortage of more than 100,000
physicians by 2030 — with a shortfall of up to 43,100 in
primary care and 61,800 in specialty care (including
surgeons). The supply of surgeons, in particular, is projected
to have little growth by 2030, but projected demand is
expected to increase, resulting in a shortage of between
19,800 and 29,000 surgeons by 2030.
The federal government —primarily through Medicare —
provides funds to support graduate medical education
(GME). Unfortunately, however, while medical schools in the
U.S. have increased their enrollments, and additional medical
and osteopathic schools have been established, the number
of Medicare-funded resident positions has been capped by
law at 1996 levels.
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