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US Doctor Shortage Is Getting Scary

And ObamaCare can't reverse the trend

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 29, 2012 3:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Struggling to find a good primary care doctor these days? You're not alone. Seems the US has far too few of them, and ObamaCare won't really plug the gap, the New York Times reports. Even with President Obama's health care plan, America will have 100,000 fewer doctors than needed by 2025. Among the reasons why: Medical students are chasing big bucks as specialists, and Baby Boomers are getting old and demanding more health care.

Economically depressed areas are taking it especially hard, like Detroit, the Mississippi Delta, and Southern California's Inland Empire. ObamaCare's expansion of Medicaid—which states can opt out of—will help by paying for more primary care doctors, but hurt by overloading current doctors with more patients. Overall, Obama's new plan is expected to give the country 3,000 new doctors over the next 10 years when it really needs about 45,000.

Americans are likely to spend more time waiting for overworked doctors.
Americans are likely to spend more time waiting for overworked doctors.   (Shutterstock)
In this July 12, 2012 photo, a woman stands at the registration window at Nuestra Clinica Del Valle in San Juan, Texas.
In this July 12, 2012 photo, a woman stands at the registration window at Nuestra Clinica Del Valle in San Juan, Texas.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 59 comments
fancygapva
Jul 31, 2012 8:45 AM CDT
Doctors leave school with a huge debt. Remember the old national defense loans that were forgiven if a teacher worked for two years in an inner city or rural area? Seems doctor's loans could be forgiven by the government as well for 5 years of service in a doctor poor area as a GP. Then they could go get their specialty if they want to. They wouldn't be so pressured to make the big bucks if they didn't have the big debt. Fewer might choose specialties. Also, after a while there won't be enough patients to go around in all those specialties.
Riffran
Jul 31, 2012 5:14 AM CDT
Apparently they still haven't read it ...after they passed it
carbonated_turtle
Jul 30, 2012 6:23 PM CDT
You know who has lots of doctors, and some of the best in the world? Cuba. Just saying.
 

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