Primary-Care Doctor Shortage May Undermine Health Reform Efforts

This is actually one of the most important points to understand about healthcare reform. For those advocating for reform that “provides healthcare” to the 50 million uninsured, it’s simple economics.

Increase demand. Add 50 million new confused people who recently purchased a government plan to the demand for doctor visits.

Decrease supply. There are only so many primary care doctor visits in America. And with only 6% of doctors choosing primary care every year nowadays, the supply is getting lower and lower.

Equals:

Increased demand - dwindling supply = mandated insurance 50 million people can’t use.

I wish Washington would understand that health insurance does not equal health access. I wish they’d start speaking this way about reform efforts. I wish they’d face the hard truths that they’ve done nothing to curb policy to build a strong primary care base of physicians.

Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin of the Supreme Court of Canada says it best: “access to a waiting list is not access to health care.”