Why It’s So Hard to See a Doctor: Inside America’s Physician Shortage

Physician pay has lagged far behind inflation while costs to run a practice keep rising, creating a silent crisis in access to care. Medicare and private insurer cuts, growing physician burnout, and an aging population are driving a worsening doctor shortage that will mean longer waits, rushed visits, and fewer choices for patients unless payment, training, and burnout are addressed now.​ Learn more about Dr. Eddie Patton HERE. Subscribe to Your Health, Your Wealth on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your favorite podcasts.  Key Takeaways 1. Medicare has increased physician pay only about 11% from 2001–2021 while practice costs rose ~39% and overall inflation ~51%.​ 2. Hospitals and skilled nursing facilities have seen 60%+ Medicare payment increases over the same period, widening the gap for doctors.​ 3. To stay open, many practices see more patients in less time, cut staff, consolidate, or stop taking Medicare/low-paying plans.​ 4. The U.S. may face a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, especially in primary care, psychiatry, and neurology.​ 5. Policy changes aligning physician payments with inflation, expanding training slots, easing debt, and reducing administrative burden are critical to protect access and quality.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.