NPR January 9, 2026
When her doctor died suddenly in August, Tammy MacDonald found herself among the roughly 17% of adults in America without a primary care physician.
MacDonald wanted to find a new doctor right away. She needed refills for her blood pressure medications, and wanted to book a follow-up appointment after a breast cancer scare.
She called 10 primary care practices near her home in Westwood, Mass. None of the doctors, nurse practitioners or physician assistants were taking new patients. A few offices told her that a doctor could see her — in a year and a half, or two years.
“I was just shocked by that, because we live in Boston,...
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