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Breaking Barriers in Health Care

health care - The LIBRE Initiative

January 30, 2025

The United States is facing a physician shortage that is worsening by the day, with projections from The Association of American Medical Colleges estimating that the shortage will approach 100,000 physicians by 2036. This shortage is even more acute for non-native English speakers and minority populations, many of whom already live in underserved areas. Physicians licensed abroad can provide culturally and linguistically appropriate care to these communities, but traditional state licensure pathways, which require U.S.-based residency, have historically limited their ability to do so. However, one California program is providing an alternative, showing that international talent can help address the health care needs of the state’s rural Latino population without onerous residency requirements.

According to data from the Health Resources and Services Administration, 76 million Americans live in primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) across the country, with California having more HPSAs than any other state. In California, 70 percent of those living in HPSAs are Latino, African American, or Native American. For Latinos, California’s largest ethnic group, finding linguistically and culturally appropriate care in these shortage areas is almost impossible.

Originally Posted in Real Clear Health