Access to adequate medical care is a serious problem in the developing world. But could the U.S. face a similar crisis?

• Some major medical associations are warning that there may be a deficiency of tens of thousands of doctors as soon as 2020, especially in traditionally underserved areas like inner cities and rural towns.
• There are many reasons for this: an uneven concentration of specialists in certain fields due to compensation differences, an aging population with unique and extensive medical needs, an increasing overall population, and increased access to medical care thanks to health care reform.
• But not everyone agrees that the problem is so dire – there are doctors who suggest that this warning is simply an attempt by medical training institutions to demand more funding.

Facts & Figures

• For a 30-minute office visit, Medicare will pay a general physician $103.42; it will pay $449.44 for a colonoscopy performed in the same amount of time.
• Between 2000 and 2030, the number of Americans over 65 will double.
• The Health Resources and Services Administration estimates that by the year 2020, there will be a deficit of 65,560 primary-care physicians.

Best Quote

“When we talk about a shortage, we are looking at the current way we provide care to people and say it has to be provided by a primary care physician. From community health workers to other services provided by physician assistants and nurse practitioners, so much of what can be addressed in terms of routine care can be performed by others.” – Kevin Barnett, Senior Investigator, Public Health Institute (Oakland, CA)