Kentucky Physician Shortage Facts
Physician supply lags behind patient demand nationally and across Kentucky. As supply falls, patients wait longer to see a doctor, and doctors burn out.
By 2030
The U.S. is projected to have 120,000 too few doctors nationally.
- Nearly 40% of American physicians will reach retirement age.
- The United States will face a shortage of over 120,000 physicians.
- 32.3% of Kentucky physicians are within retirement range right now.
Kentucky is projected to be short 2,926 doctors.
- Primary care alone is projected to be short 624 providers.
Overall, Kentucky ranks in the bottom half of states for primary care and physician availability.
107 of Kentucky’s 120 counties are health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).
- Low-income citizens are disproportionately affected by these shortages.
- HPSA designations indicate areas where there are 3,500 or more patients for every one provider.
Kentucky’s physician-to-patient ratio is 23 percent worse than the national average.
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