Different Takes On The Doctor Shortage
Fox News reports that the health law may exacerbate this this access-to-care issue, but CNN reports that that family medicine residencies have seen a record increase in enrollment.
Fox News: Federal Health Care Law Could Exacerbate Existing Doctor Shortages
The new health care law will add 32 million people to the rolls of the insured. But that won't work well if they can't get access to a doctor. And many say the U.S. is facing a growing shortage of physicians. "And that is going to ... put tremendous pressure on the system to handle all the new people that are enrolled," says Grace-Marie Turner, president of the Galen Institute and author of "Why Obamacare Is Wrong for America." The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that by 2015, there will be a shortage of more than 62,000 doctors. By 2020, the shortage leaps to more than 91,000, and by 2025, it is more than 130,000 (Angle, 3/23).
CNNMoney: Med Students Rush To Primary Care Programs
This year, family medicine residency programs not only saw a record 94 percent enrollment rate, they also added an additional 100 slots to accommodate the increased demand. "Health reform is largely responsible for this upswing," said Dr. Roland Goertz, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (Kavilanz, 3/23).
