FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2020
CONTACT: Logan Elizabeth Padgett
Lpadgett@jamesmadison.org
850-386-3131
JMI Releases New Report Examining Practitioner Shortages in Florida
In Florida, there is an impending shortage of healthcare practitioners. It’s estimated that Florida already needs an additional 1,636 primary care physicians to address existing shortages. This shortage is projected to grow to over 3,000 primary care physicians by 2025 and as high as 4,671 by 2030.
There are currently 282 Health Professional Shortage Areas in Florida, covering a population of 6,063,708 people. A new study by Vittorio Nastasi and Sal Nuzzo finds “the existing physician workforce meets just 21.4 percent of the need in those areas.” Overall, Florida ranks 23rd for the number of total active physicians but ranks worse in terms of primary care physicians. Compared to the state median of 90.8 primary care physicians per 100,000 people, Florida has just 86.8 physicians.
Expanding the role of non-physician practitioners, removing barriers for out-of-state telehealth providers, eliminating Certificate of Need requirements and bans on specialty hospitals, and embracing innovative technologies would go a long way toward addressing the growing shortage.
“The fact that Florida faces an existing and growing shortage in healthcare across the board is not disputed. With a population growing by close to 1,000 every single day, we will only feel the pinch more as we delay addressing it. Our demographics also make this challenge more pronounced – the majority of our growth will be individuals over 65. Patient-centered and market-driven approaches are not radical ideas – they are common sense solutions to getting Floridians access to care in ways that lower costs and improve overall health. Like any other innovation, when we focus on the end consumers and their needs, we will accomplish the goals of protecting Floridians, improving quality, and increasing access to needed services.” – Sal Nuzzo, Vice President of Policy, The James Madison Institute
“As Florida’s population continues to grow and age, the supply of physicians will be unable to meet demand. No single policy alone can alleviate the growing shortage. Rather, a broad array of reforms is required to ensure that Floridians will have adequate access to care.” – Vittorio Nastasi, Policy Analyst, Reason Foundation
To read “Curing the Physician Shortage: State-Level Prescriptions for a National Problem” click here.
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Florida’s premier free-market think tank, The James Madison Institute is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the advancement of free markets and liberty. The Institute conducts research on such issues as criminal justice, health care, taxes, and regulatory environments.
