The physician shortage is a critical issue that has been highlighted on this blog and is projected to worsen in the coming years. A recent survey found that 35 percent of physicians are likely to leave their current roles within five years, with 60 percent considering leaving healthcare entirely. Contributing to this crisis are overwhelming administrative burdens, unsustainable workloads, and declining reimbursement rates, all pushing physicians toward exiting the profession.  

Medicare reimbursement, in particular, has become a significant concern for physicians and the healthcare system. This year’s proposed 2.8 percent decrease to the physician fee schedule marks the fifth consecutive year of cuts, contributing to an overall decline of 29 percent to physician reimbursement over the last 23 years when adjusted for inflation. At the same time, the cost of running a practice – such as rent, staff salaries, and medical supplies – continues to increase, creating a challenging environment for physicians to sustain their practices.  

The United States already ranks last in access to healthcare among high-income countries, according to a report by the Commonwealth Fund. As the physician shortage worsens, access to healthcare will become even more strained. Addressing physician retention and reimbursement will be critical in stabilizing the healthcare landscape and maintaining patient access to care.  

To learn more about the issues facing physicians, check out our white paper on the challenges physicians are facing. You can also access our Healthcare Advocacy Toolkit for additional information and resources.