Idaho 49th In Per Capita Doctors

Doctor shortages are a problem in many states. But there are a number of reasons why Idaho’s problem is worse than others. For one thing, Idaho doesn’t have its own medical school . Then there are obstacles all rural states face: Difficulty attracting doctors to places where salaries, schools and job opportunities for spouses aren’t as good as they can find in metro areas. The Association of American Medical Colleges ranks physicians per 100,000 people in the 50 states. The most recent report shows Idaho had 2,873 active physicians in 2010.  This includes M.D.s and D.O.s .  That means Idaho had 184 doctors per 100,000 people. By contrast, top-ranked Massachusetts had the most doctors per capita according to the 2011 report.  The state boasts 27,550 physicians which breaks down to 416 per 100,000 people/ Emilie Ritter Saunders (pictured), StateImpact. More here.

Question: Is the Otter administration and the Idaho Legislature doing enough to address Idaho’s woeful shortage of doctors?