The Obamacare Primary care physician shortage just got worse. Estimates are pointing to a 50% increase in the predicted shortage fall. That's gonna be a big problem!
(Reuters) - The U.S. healthcare reform law will worsen a
shortage of physicians as millions of newly insured patients seek care, the
Association of American Medical Colleges said on Thursday.
The group's Center for Workforce Studies released new
estimates that showed shortages would be 50 percent worse in 2015 than
forecast.
"While previous projections showed a baseline shortage
of 39,600 doctors in 2015, current estimates bring that number closer to
63,000, with a worsening of shortages through 2025," the group said in a
statement.
"The United States already was struggling with a
critical physician shortage and the problem will only be exacerbated as 32
million Americans acquire health care coverage, and an additional 36 million
people enter Medicare."
Medicare is the federal health insurance plan for people
over the age of 65, and census projections show that group growing as the giant
baby boomer generation born from 1946 to 1964 hits retirement age.
The U.S. healthcare reform plan signed into law by President
Barack Obama in March is designed to provide insurance to 32 million Americans
who now lack it.
The AAMC projected a shortage of 33,100 physicians in
specialties such as cardiology, oncology and emergency medicine in 2015.
It calls for Congress to increase funding to train new
doctors. "The number of medical school students continues to increase,
adding 7,000 graduates every year over the next decade," the AAMC said.
It said at least 15 percent more were needed.
Other groups, such as the nonprofit
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