Survey Finds Widespread Dissatisfaction Among Primary Care Physicians; Predicts Massive Shortfall by 2025
[Posted 11/24/08]

The United States faces a shortage of 35,000 to 40,000 primary care physicians by 2025, according to a recent survey of more than 12,000 primary care physicians. The survey was conducted by Physicians’ Foundation for Health Systems Excellence, which was founded in 2003 and funded by more than $100 million from CMA’s successful racketeering lawsuit against some of the nation’s largest for-profit HMOs.

The survey depicts widespread frustration and concern among primary care physicians nationwide. Forty-nine percent of them say that over the next three years they plan to reduce the number of patients they see or stop practicing entirely. The reported reasons for the frustration include increased time dealing with nonclinical paperwork, difficulty receiving reimbursement, and burdensome government regulations. Physicians say these issues keep them from the most satisfying aspect of their job: taking care of their patients.

The Physicians’ Foundation believes the future of primary care could have a significant impact on the American health care debate.

“At a time when the new Administration and new Congress are talking about ways to expand access to health care, the harsh reality is that there might not be enough doctors to handle the increased number of people who might want to see them if they get health insurance,” says Walker Ray, MD, vice president of the Physicians’ Foundation.