Data suggest physician shortage could exceed 124,000 by 2025.

Congressional Quarterly reported, "The nation's health system will have to rely on nurse practitioners and physician assistants to cope with a shortage of doctors that will climb to 124,000 physicians by the year 2025, according to new projections [released] by a medical school lobby. This "estimated shortage of 124,000 doctors assumes that medical resources will be used at current levels, but the report says that 'practice and utilization patterns in the future are very unlikely to be the same as today. Further healthcare legislation is said to be contributing to physician shortage in Massachusetts. A sudden demand for primary-care doctors has outpaced the supply. Massachusetts recently passed legislation to make primary care more attractive -- through loan forgiveness, home buying help and better reimbursements. Comment: But there is no evidence that medical school are changing their emphasis on training specialists.