America's Growing Senior Population Is Leading to a Doctor Shortage Crisis

The Association of American Medical Colleges forecasts a shortage of 46,900 to 121,900 physicians by 2032 in primary and specialty care in the United States, as the aging American population outgrows the supply of physicians, reports CNBC . "We know older people use two-to-three times as many medical services as younger persons, and the number of people over age 65 will increase by almost 50 percent just in the next 10 to 15 years alone," noted the association's Atul Grover. "We need positions across the board in just about every specialty and location . . . but about half of those physicians needed will be in primary care." Certain states and localities, like Arizona and particularly rural regions, face a greater need for doctors. "What we know . . . is that about 50 percent of trainees tend to remain in the place where they train," said Akil Loli with Arizona-based Abrazo Health. Arizona aims to mitigate the shortage through licensing law revisions, with Gov. Doug Ducey signing a Universal Licensing Recognition statute so doctors licensed in other states can relocate to Arizona and secure similar accreditation with less difficulty. Meanwhile, the Association of American Medical Colleges is adamant that the number of residency programs must expand.