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Addressing Physician Workforce Issues for Access to Healthcare

This article discusses the importance of an adequate supply and distribution of healthcare workers, especially physicians, to ensure access to healthcare. It highlights the challenges faced by the nation in terms of shortages and distribution problems, and the programs and policies supported by the Affordable Care Act and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to address these issues. It emphasizes the need for better data and information to guide workforce policies and investments, and the importance of redesigning the healthcare delivery system to effectively use the health workforce. The article also provides information about various provisions and initiatives aimed at increasing the supply of primary care workforce and improving healthcare access.

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Addressing Physician Workforce Issues for Access to Healthcare

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  1. Physician Workforce IssuesAlliance for Health ReformWashington DCNovember 15, 2010 Edward Salsberg Director, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Health Professions

  2. Overview (1) • An adequate supply and distribution of health workers, including physicians, is essential to assuring access • Even before the Affordable Care Act, the nation was facing shortages due to a growing and aging population and increasing array of interventions • Programs and policies supported by the Affordable Care Act and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will increase access and reduce the likelihood of shortages in the future

  3. Overview (2) • The nation faces both general shortages and distribution problems • There are some significant gaps in our data systems; better data is needed to assess current and future workforce needs and better information is needed to guide the workforce marketplace • Increasing the supply alone will not be sufficient to assure access. Redesigning the delivery system to make more effective use of our health workforce is critical. The Affordable Care Act includes numerous provisions to encourage innovation and systems redesign

  4. Data and Information to Inform Workforce Policies and Investments • National Health Care Workforce Commission • National Center for Health Workforce Analysis • State Health Workforce Development Grants • Health Care Workforce Program Assessment

  5. National Center for Health Workforce Analysis • Develop data, information and projections on health care workforce • Widely disseminate the data, information and findings on the health workforce • Support research to better understand current and future workforce needs • Establish performance measures and evaluate Title VII programs • Coordinate with the Commission and assist State Health Workforce Grantees

  6. Physician Workforce Issues • Projected general shortages • Projected shortage of primary care practitioners • Mal-distribution • Inadequate diversity

  7. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) • $200 million for Health Professions • $47.6 million for Training in Primary Care Medicine & Dentistry • $10.5 million for Public Health • $39.5 million for Nursing • $52.4 million for Diversity Programs • $1.5 million for Licensure Portability • $50 million for Equipment

  8. Increasing Supply of Primary Care Workforce (ACA)

  9. Other Workforce Provisions • National Health Service Corps Expansion • $142m in FY2010 – 1,099 new loan repayment awards • $300m from Recovery Act – 4,000 new loan repayment awards (FY09-11) • Community Health Centers Expansion • $11 billion in Affordable Care Act funds authorized through 2015 • Oral/Behavioral Health Expansion • $23.9 million for oral health workforce development FY2010 • ($6.7m Recovery Act) • $26.2 million for behavioral health • Higher Medicare reimbursement rates for primary care/general surgeons and other bonuses in shortage areas • Increase in Medicaid rates for primary care • Teaching health centers • Support for HIT/HER • Insurance billing simplification

  10. Closing Comment • Assuring an adequate supply and distribution of health workers will be a challenge for the nation • The Affordable Care Act provides the nation with new and stronger tools to help assure an adequate supply

  11. Contact Information Edward Salsberg Director, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis Bureau of Health Professions Health Resources and Services Administration esalsberg@hrsa.gov 301-443-9355

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