alt Hacker NewsIt's a gatekeeping problem. Doctors don't want more doctors because it dilutes their own value, so medical school and residency spots are kept artificially limited.
It's a gatekeeping problem. Doctors don't want more doctors because it dilutes their own value, so medical school and residency spots are kept artificially limited.
This is oft-repeated truism, but what evidence do you have for this?
Here are some facts:
- Ultimately, the main chokepoint for the number of trained physicians is the number of residency spots. You can cut the price of med school to $0, you'll eventually end up with minimally more fully trained doctors because they need a residency spot.
- Residency spots are paid for by the federal government. Congress controls the number of available spots. Medical professional bodies do not determine this.
- The AMA has consistently asked members to support legislation increasing funding for GME positions (https://www.ama-assn.org/about/leadership/more-medicare-supp...). At one point (late 90s) they opposed expanding the slots, but this has not been true for some time. And, even if it were true, it's ultimately still not their call.