An Institute of Medicine panel's vision for overhauling Medicare-funded medical training questions two beliefs that are widely held in healthcare: that a severe physician shortage is imminent and the only way to avoid it is an infusion of federal money for more residency positions. The report (found here), written by a 21-member committee co-chaired by former CMS administrators Dr. Donald Berwick and Gail Wilensky, says shortages are created by poor geographic distribution of physicians and lopsided ratios of primary care and specialty physicians and that recent research suggests the answers lie in new technology and innovations in healthcare delivery.
Read more about the report and reaction from physician groups in or Modern Healthcare.
Showing posts with label Primary care shortage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Primary care shortage. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Missouri Bill Aims to Reduce Workforce Shortage by Allowing New Route to Become “Assistant Physicians”
Missouri may soon allow licensed medical school graduates to practice medicine and prescribe drugs without having completed a residency.
The proposal (Senate Bill 716), which has passed the state legislature and awaits the governor's signature, aims to address the issue of providing adequate healthcare in rural and other underserved areas of the state.
Under the bill, graduates of accredited medical schools could become “assistant physicians” and provide primary care services in rural or medically underserved areas if they haven't completed residency training. However, they must have completed the first two steps of their medical licensing exam. A collaborating physician would be responsible for all services rendered by the assistant physician.
Under rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an assistant physician would also be considered a physician assistant. Read the article in Modern Healthcare here (requires a free subscription).
The proposal (Senate Bill 716), which has passed the state legislature and awaits the governor's signature, aims to address the issue of providing adequate healthcare in rural and other underserved areas of the state.
Under the bill, graduates of accredited medical schools could become “assistant physicians” and provide primary care services in rural or medically underserved areas if they haven't completed residency training. However, they must have completed the first two steps of their medical licensing exam. A collaborating physician would be responsible for all services rendered by the assistant physician.
Under rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an assistant physician would also be considered a physician assistant. Read the article in Modern Healthcare here (requires a free subscription).
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