CMEI MedicarePhysicianJune2025 F

New Study: Medicare’s Price Controls Are Fueling America’s Growing Doctor Shortage

The Pacific Research Institute’s Center for Medical Economics and Innovation today released a new issue brief warning that continued federal underpayment of doctors is fueling a looming healthcare crisis by accelerating the nation’s physician shortage and undermining access to care. Written by PRI senior fellow in business and economics and CMEI director Dr. Wayne Winegarden, the brief (titled “It’s Time for Medicare to Stop Shortchanging Physicians”) finds that Medicare reimbursement rates are well below market ...

Congressional Affordability Fix Must Hold Hospitals Accountable

The nation’s top hospital lobbyist testified before the House last week for the third in a series of hearings on healthcare affordability. According to a recent poll from KFF (f/k/a Kaiser Family Foundation), a little less than half of Americans say they have trouble affording healthcare. Over one-third have skipped or delayed needed treatment in the past year because of cost concerns. The lobbyist attempted to downplay hospitals’ role in driving health costs upward. The ...
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America’s Healthcare System Has Never Been Better At Keeping Patients Alive

American life expectancy has hit an all-time high. According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy at birth in 2024 was 79 years. Americans are living longer thanks to significant declines in death from things like cancer, heart disease and stroke. This progress is largely the product of medical innovation. Private industry is pouring billions of dollars into pharmaceutical research and development—and producing breakthrough therapies that would have sounded ...
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