Physician reimbursement is often discussed in isolation, without acknowledging a critical consequence: reduced patient access to care. As payment rates decline, more physicians are forced to close their practices or relocate—especially in rural areas, where over 400 hospitals are now vulnerable to closure.  

Although physician reimbursement tends to dominate headlines, it reflects only a portion of the financial strain facing practices. Rising costs—administrative overhead, staffing, technology, equipment, insurance, and employee benefits—continue to outpace revenue. When reimbursement doesn’t increase, but costs keep rising, practices earn less and struggle to stay financially viable. 

The U.S. faces a projected physician shortage of 86,000 physicians by 2036. Reimbursement rates are not keeping pace with inflation or the rising costs of operating a practice. Together, these challenges directly reduce access to care. Protecting reimbursement helps preserve patients' access to care—and that impacts the health of entire populations. 

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