Association of American Medical Colleges Releases 2023 Data About US Physician Workforce
AAMC has released 2023 data about the US physician workforce, with stratifications by race and ethnicity and by medical specialty. Nationally, 18.8% of the nation’s 989,320 physicians were Asian, and 0.1% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (alone or in combination with other races). Data also is available by states and territories, and by medical specialties. For example,
- In Hawaii, 42.4% of the state’s 4,592 physicians were Asian and 1.6% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- In Guam, 34.7% of the territory’s 176 physicians were Asian (data suppressed for Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders)
- In California, 31.2% of the state’s 118,491 physicians were Asian and 0.2% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- In Texas, 22.9% of the state’s 70,589 physicians were Asian and 0.1% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- In New York, 22.3% of the state’s 78,362 physicians were Asian and 0.1% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
- In Washington, 20.2% of the state’s 22,772 physicians were Asian and 0.2% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- 25.4% of the nation’s 124,098 internal medicine physicians were Asian and 0.1 were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- 14.7% of the nation’s 121,753 family medicine/general practice physicians were Asian and 0.1 were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander * 14.9% of the nation’s 61,638 pediatrics physicians were Asian and 0.1 were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- In Hawaii, 51.8% of the state’s 704 internal medicine physicians were Asian (data suppressed for Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders).
- In Hawaii, 33.4% of the state’s 551 family medicine/general medicine physicians were Asian and 4% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
- In Hawaii, 50.3% of the state’s 338 pediatrics physicians were Asian (data suppressed for Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders).
- In California, 38.8% of the state’s 16,455 internal medicine physicians were Asian and 0.2% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
- In California, 29.5% of the state’s 14,330 family medicine/general medicine physicians were Asian and 0.2% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
- In California, 29.1% of the state’s 7,980 pediatrics physicians were Asian and 0.3% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
North Carolina Becomes 40th State to Implement Medicaid Expansion
On December 1, 2023, North Carolina became the 40th state to implement Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). An estimated 600,000 North Carolinians may now be eligible for Medicaid. Nationally, Asians, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have benefited from Medicaid expansions, with resulting decreases in rates of uninsurance. North Carolina also is simultaneously implement delivery system and payment reforms in its Medicaid program, including the introduction of Medicaid managed care, to provide integrated physical and behavioral health care, and to address health-related social needs.
White House Domestic Policy Council and Office of Science and Technology Issues US Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of- life outcomes and risks. These community-level factors influence a variety of individual health- related social needs such as financial strain, housing instability and poor quality, food insecurity, lack of access to health care, and inadequate educational opportunities. An inability to meet these social needs puts individuals at higher risk for exacerbating health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, depression, cancer, and diabetes..
The frequent organizational separation of health care from services such as housing or nutrition programs complicates efforts to address interconnected health needs. This federal government Playbook lays out an initial set of actions that federal agencies are undertaking to break down these silos, and to support equitable health outcomes by improving the social circumstances of individuals and communities. These actions include expanding data gathering and sharing, supporting flexible funding to address social needs, and supporting backbone organizations to coordinate health and social services in communities.
Department of Health and Human Services Issues Call to Action for Addressing Health-Related Social Needs in Communities Across the Nation
The Department of HHS calls on individuals working in health care, social services, public and environmental health, government, and health information technology to partner and work together across silos to address health-related social needs through community partnerships to improve the health and well-being of every American. The Call to Action includes recommendations for community-based organizations, health systems and clinicians, payers, health departments, and the health information technology community.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Issues Guidance on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Coverage for Health-Related Social Needs
States can address health-related social needs through a variety of Medicaid and CHIP authorities, including state plan authorities, Home & Community-Based Services section 1915 waivers, managed care in lieu of services and settings (ILOSs), section 1115 demonstrations, and CHIP health services initiatives. This CMS guidance summarizes these authorities.
Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Issues Final Rule for Certification of Health IT, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing
This final rule updates requirements for federal certification of electronic health records, effective January 2026, including the adoption of the current version (v3) of the US Core Data for Interoperability (which includes data about patient disability and function, and tribal affiliation). The rule also encourages exchange of electronic health information under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement, and creates initial requirements for transparency in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive algorithms in certified health IT.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Issues Guidance for Adding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data to Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Applications
On November 1, 2023, CMS began asking three new optional sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) questions for individuals ages 12 years and older on the single, streamlined application for Medicaid and CHIP. These questions will allow consumers to identify themselves in a way that better reflects and affirms their identities, improve demographic data collection to identify disparities in access to care and, ultimately, to support appropriate and equitable health care. The guidance also describes the safeguards that states must put in place to protect the privacy and security of all beneficiary data, including any SOGI data collected.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Reports National Health Care Expenditures for 2022
- National Health Expenditures (NHE) grew 4.1% to $4.5 trillion in 2022, or $13,493 per person, and accounted for 17.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- Medicare spending grew 5.9% to $944.3 billion in 2022, or 21 percent of total NHE; Medicaid spending grew 9.6% to $805.7 billion in 2022, or 18 percent of total NHE.
- Private health insurance spending grew 5.9% to $1,289.8 billion in 2022, or 29 percent of total NHE.
- Consumer out of pocket spending grew 6.6% to $471.4 billion in 2022, or 11 percent of total NHE.
- Physician and clinical services expenditures grew 2.7% to $884.9 billion in 2022, slower growth than the 5.3% in 2021; hospital expenditures grew 2.2% to $1,355.0 billion in 2022, slower than the 4.5% growth in 2021.
- Prescription drug spending increased 8.4% to $405.9 billion in 2022, faster than the 6.8% growth in 2021.
NCAPIP represents Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander physicians committed to the advancement of the health and well-being of their patients and communities. NCAPIP believes in shaping health care in America to meet this shared American goal of optimal health for all.