Many Americans are unable to obtain quality affordable health care because their communities lack the right mix of health care providers, according to a new report released today by the Department of Health and Human Services. 

The study, The Health Care Workforce in Ten States: Education, Practice and Policy, provides a comprehensive assessment of how a variety of workforce issues impact health care accessibility in a set of representative states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

“We need to do more to get enough doctors, nurses and other health care professionals into the underserved areas where they're needed most,” HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. “This report offers data and analysis to guide states in how they can strengthen the care available in these areas through workforce development.”

This study urges state policy-makers to take a hard look at how they:

• finance health professions education;

• license and regulate health professions practice and private health insurers;

• purchase services and pay providers under Medicaid; and

• design incentive programs to encourage health professionals to choose certain specialties and practice locations.

Conducted by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration, the study examines many topics, including: how states organize and pay for health care; the impact of investing in primary care education; and the importance of high retention rates for those physicians trained in-state.   The reports were prepared under contract with the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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