CHCF October 13, 2025
Prevention happens when people can see a primary care doctor for regular check-ups and basic care. However, the U.S. spends only about 5 cents of every health care dollar on primary care. Other high-income countries spend three times that much. This chronic underinvestment creates a cascade of problems.
We Starve Primary Care
Primary care doctors are paid less than other doctors , so medical students choose higher-paying specialties instead. Medical schools don’t create enough primary care residency slots because hospitals make more money training specialists. Between training shortfalls and other barriers, California now has over 11 million residents living in areas with officially recognized primary care shortages.
On top of workforce shortages, patients may find that some doctors don’t take...
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