Doctor shortage before healthcare reform

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A group of U.S. doctors wants Congress to know that there is a shortage of primary care physicians even before healthcare reform is considered.

The American College of Physicians sent a letter to key legislators in Congress urging them to ensure that the final healthcare reform bill includes provisions to support the primary care workforce.

"Recent studies show that the U.S. faces a shortage of more than 40,000 primary care physicians, even before taking into account increased demand for primary care associated with increased coverage," Dr. Joseph W. Stubbs, president of the American College of Physicians said in the letter.

Studies show that low levels of reimbursement for primary care, especially relative to other specialties, is a principal reason why physicians are not going into primary care, Stubbs said.

"Under both bills, Medicaid will be expanded to cover millions of more Americans, but many of them will not be able to find a primary care doctor if low payment rates continue to make it impossible for primary care doctors to accept more Medicaid patients," the letter said.

"ACP urged support for a provision in the House bill to increase Medicaid payments to equal the Medicare rates within four years. Both bills have provisions to increase Medicare primary care payments."