Physician supply and distribution in the USA

The rising cost of US health care has precipitated some close examination as to the supply, distribution, and specialty choice of the physician workforce. It is an issue of considerable concern as America struggles to control health-care expenditures by shifting resources away from specialty medicine. Central to this problem are the various programmes and incentives which have encouraged an excess number of residency positions and specialty training. Examines the consequences of an unregulated medical school structure and provides an overview of current policy alternatives designed to increase the number of primary care physicians, correct the problems of physician maldistribution, and limit the overall number of medical school graduates.