Why is it so hard to find a primary care doctor taking new patients?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the AMA caps seats in medical schools and residencies. Only 30% of docs are members but they control the industry like any cartel.

I do not believe this is true. My understanding is that it’s the lack of residency slots that limits the number of doctors and I do not believe the AMA has anything to do with the # of residency slots because I believe they are supported by federal government funding.

I’ve seen this discussed many places but here’s one example:

https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-AMA-American-Medical-Association-limit-the-number-of-medical-school-admissions#:~:text=The%20American%20Medical%20Association%20(AMA,directly%20limit%20medical%20school%20admissions.

Who exactly do you think shows up to lobby against the expansion of federal funding for residency seats?

Who exactly do you think shows up to advocate against opening more medical schools?

Very naive.

Your post stated that the AMA caps the seats. I provided information to show the AMA doesn’t cap the seats. Certainly the AMA may lobby Congress but if folks on this website are worried about this issue it may be helpful for them to know that they can also reach out to their reps to ask why the federal government doesn’t increase funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the AMA caps seats in medical schools and residencies. Only 30% of docs are members but they control the industry like any cartel.

I do not believe this is true. My understanding is that it’s the lack of residency slots that limits the number of doctors and I do not believe the AMA has anything to do with the # of residency slots because I believe they are supported by federal government funding.

I’ve seen this discussed many places but here’s one example:

https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-AMA-American-Medical-Association-limit-the-number-of-medical-school-admissions#:~:text=The%20American%20Medical%20Association%20(AMA,directly%20limit%20medical%20school%20admissions.

Who exactly do you think shows up to lobby against the expansion of federal funding for residency seats?

Who exactly do you think shows up to advocate against opening more medical schools?

Very naive.

Your post stated that the AMA caps the seats. I provided information to show the AMA doesn’t cap the seats. Certainly the AMA may lobby Congress but if folks on this website are worried about this issue it may be helpful for them to know that they can also reach out to their reps to ask why the federal government doesn’t increase funding.

You didn't actually provide the information you are claiming to have provided. Let's set that aside for a moment.

There's an answer to OP's question and the answer is: the AMA prevents the production of more primary care docs. The question is really: who needs to be the target of a campaign to change this? And the answer, alas, is not merely "your elected representatives." They're answering to financial incentives that have to be overcome. Letters and calls aren't going to do it.

[Anonymous]

If you don't believe me, ask the AMA itself--its highest priorities are payment reform and reducing administrative burdens. Increasing graduate medical education slots is last on their list.

https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/sustainability/all-hands-deck-needed-confront-physician-shortage-crisis

[Anonymous]

Because medicine in America is broken and the entire system has collapsed.

[Anonymous]

Does One Medical work like a regular medical office, or do you have to pay an extra fee to be a member? Can you always get in with your own doctor on the same day?