Report: Physician shortage projected to remain high

By 2025, the U.S. will face a shortage of 46,100 to 90,400 physicians, according to a report released this week by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

 

The report projects a shortfall of 12,500 to 31,000 primary care physicians and 28,200 to 63,700 non-primary care physicians. The demand for about 17,000 physicians will be a result of expanded medical coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

 

The projected shortfalls for the 2015 study are actually lower than the AAMC’s 2010 study that projected a shortfall of 130,600 physicians by 2025. According to the report, the differences in the projections can be attributed to revised U.S. Census Bureau population projections, a rise in the number of physicians completing graduate medical education, and new projections on the implementation of the ACA.