According to John Geyman, the biggest problem the U.S. healthcare system now faces is the decline in primary care. In other countries that manage to keep their per capita healthcare costs down, primary care physicians represent a greater percentage of doctors. Geyman quotes, "research shows that preventive care, care coordination for the chronically ill, and continuity of care -- all hallmarks of primary care medicine -- can achieve better health outcomes and cost savings." The article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-geyman/the-decline-of-primary-ca_b_922256.html
To me, it seems like part of this problem is that, for doctors, it is more lucrative to become specialists than to become primary care physicians. After seven years of medical school, student loans are extremely high, and these loans are obviously easier to pay with a higher income. So, there needs to be a way to incentivize med. school graduates to enter the realm of primary care. Should this come in the form of fewer years in school? Probably not, because effective primary care physicians need to have comprehensive health knowledge. One possible solution: The government could offer student loans at a lower interest rate or more financial aid for those plainning on entering primary care. If the research Geyman quotes is correct, more primary care doctors will result in more cost savings, so the money will balance itself out. Regardless, Geyman's assessment is very interesting, and one the government should think about carefully, especially as it readies to expand health coverage to 30 million more Americans.
