Why?

Health provider and workforce issues facing the Nation and the states have converged in Missouri to make a pending crisis in primary care. One of the most alarming figures is the 25 percent reduction in medical students enrolled in Primary Care and Internal Medicine nationally. This translates into an estimated shortfall of 40,000 primary care doctors nationwide over the next decade.  Further, dozens of Missouri counties are already designated or qualify as Health Professional Shortage Areas.  This alarming trend, if it continues, will result in ongoing, critical primary care workforce shortages, dramatically and adversely impacting our rural and urban communities. The scarcity of primary care providers presents real problems for all Missourians but especially for the underserved seeking access to health services. Capacity amongst health providers to continue existing levels of service or even expanding such levels will be the critical issue as rural and urban communities struggle to replenish an aging and retiring provider population.