State-Level Variation in Primary Care Physician Density.

Abstract

Despite representing only one-third of the physician workforce in the United States, primary care physicians (PCPs) are the first contact with the health care system for most patients. A 2010 report by the Council on Graduate Medical Education recommended that 40% of the physician workforce be comprised of PCPs, with evidence demonstrating that optimal health outcomes are achieved with this proportion. However, the number of PCPs in the United States has been declining for decades. In addition, there are geographic disparities in the distribution of the existing physician workforce.