More than 570,000 practice medicine in the U.S. today, almost double the number 20 years ago. Rural America, as well as many inner cities, are facing a big problem in primary care. Communities need about 35,000 more general practitioners, according to most estimates. The shortage of general practitioners leads to wasteful use of medical resources. Without a family doctor to keep track of their overall health, people must find their own way through a costly medical system, often getting high-priced help where the skills of a general doctor would do.
Federal money pays for half of graduate medical education.
Government could redirect as much as 50 percent of the 3.6 billion federal contribution to students who plan to practice general medicine. Also, government should expand a three-year test project authorized by Congress lat year. Fear of malpractice lawsuits is a problem. These lawsuits drive doctors to perform many extra procedures to protect themselves from claims of malpractice. Many doctors challenge such finding, arguing that it's better to make a mistake on the safe side.