"Despite the virtues and benefits of primary care, it seems to be getting harder to access. In 2025, there were 7,901 primary care health professional shortage areas. A recent report found that primary care physicians per capita declined between 2012 and 2021, and fewer trainees chose to pursue primary care than specialty care over the same period.... Nationally, among people with ESI, primary care made up 4.39% of total medical and prescription spending in 2022. Primary care spending in Medicare FFS was lower than ESI, at 3.86% of total spending. "  MORE >>