Finding a primary care physician these days is no easy feat. There’s a shortage of PCPs in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
In the most recent episode of 12 Health, Shannon Hegy goes in-depth with a local doctor on what’s causing the shortage, what’s being done about it, and some new tools that could help with the problem.
Target 12 Investigator Alexandra Leslie cited estimates by Brown researchers that there were fewer than 700 primary care providers for Rhode Island’s population of about 1.1 million — or roughly one clinician for every 1,700 people.
The researchers found that if every active physician saw 1,200 patients a year, approximately 343,000 people would still be without a provider. They estimated that nearly 300 additional physicians would be needed to cover the state.
According to a January 2025 research brief, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission found reasons for the PCP shortage include:
- Burnout from administrative burden
- Low reimbursement rates
- Fewer physicians going into primary care
- Challenges resulting in changes in practice ownership like large health care systems taking over and new payment models like concierge service
See more at wpri.com.
