Shortage of Primary-Care Docs May Weaken Healthcare Reform

WASHINGTON—A recent Washington Post article said the shortage of primary-care doctors may put a strain on the Obama Administration’s healthcare reform agenda. The article also claimed that fixing the problem will require fundamental changes in medical education and compensation to lure more doctors into primary-care offices.

The overall shortage of doctors may grow to 124,400 by 2025, according to a study by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The report stated, "if the nation moves rapidly toward universal health coverage"—which would be likely to increase demand for primary care and reduce immediate access to specialists—the shortages "may be even more severe."

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