California Physicians: Surplus or Scarcity?

The number of physicians in California has grown steadily over the past 20 years, increasing 39 percent from 1993 to 2011, outpaciing the state's 20 percent growth rate in the general population. Demand for physician services is expected to increase with the aging of the state's population and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Ensuring access to care is also a concern, as close to one-third of California's physicians are near retirement age.

The author found that physician supply varied by region; the total number of physicians in California did not accurately reflect their availability to provide care; more than 30 percent of California physicians were over the age of 60; Latinos were underrepresented among physicians, with only 4 percent, while Latinos make up 38 percent of the state's population; three-quarters of the state's physicians went to medical school in other states or in foreign countries; physicians were less likely to serve Medi-Cal, Medicare, and uninsured patients than privately-insured patients.

• Craig Paxton
• California Health Care Foundation