Doctors, dollars, and determination: making physician work-force policy.
Because managed care is likely to feature prominently in a reformed health care system, policymakers need to examine the impact managed care will have on medical practice, physician supply, and access to primary care providers. Goals for work-force reform should focus on five areas: (1) training physicians in the generalist disciplines of family practice, general internal medicine, and general pediatrics; (2) shaping the physician work force to reflect the nation's ethnic diversity; (3) distributing physicians in a geographically equitable way; (4) maintaining the current physician-to-population ratio rather than letting it continue to grow; and (5) establishing supply needs for nurse practitioners, primary care physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives.
Mullan
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Rivo
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Politzer
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D016536:Competitive Medical Plans; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014146:Training Support / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States