PHYSICIANS PRE AND POST REFORM

Statewide

Exceeds Population Growth

Texas is adding new physicians faster than population. Since 2003, the state has added 15,161 more in-state active physicians than can be accounted for by population growth alone. Population growth may well account for 46.1 percent of the state’s new physicians. The other 53.9 percent above the trend were produced by some other factors. Many of the state’s newly minted doctors have cited Texas’ more hospitable legal climate as a significant factor in their choosing to practice here.

Physician Growth Far Exceeds Population Growth

Newly-Licensed Texas Physicians

New Physician Applications Received

Emergency Medicine Physicians

122 Counties See Gains in ER Doctors

Texas Geriatricians

Trauma Service Regions

More than two-thirds of the state’s 22 trauma service areas experienced a per population loss in direct patient care physicians during the liability crisis period. Since then, 80% of the state’s trauma service areas have experienced a per population gain. During the crisis years, the number of new applicants and new licensees stagnated or declined. Since then, the number of new physicians applying for a Texas license is at an all-time high and the number of licenses granted continues at near record levels--growing even faster than our fast-growing population. Today, Texas has more patient care physicians per population than ever.

Regional Losses Crisis Years

Regional Gains Crisis Years

Regional Losses Post-Crisis

Regional Gains Post-Crisis

High-Risk Specialists

During the post-crisis years, the number of high-risk specialists in Texas has grown more than twice as fast as the state’s population.

Change in Percentage of High-Risk Specialists

Rural

Rural Texas was losing physicians per population during the liability crisis years. Today, those numbers are on the upswing. Since the passage of reforms, sixty-one rural counties have added at least one emergency medicine physician. Thirty-one rural counties have added an obstetrician. Twenty-one rural counties have added a cardiologist and seven have added an orthopedic surgeon. The rural gains are not simply a bi-product of population growth. For instance, forty-five rural counties that did not have a single emergency medicine physician in 2003 now do. Fourteen rural counties that lacked a cardiologist and twelve counties that lacked an obstetrician now have one.

Texas Rural High-Risk Specialists Per Capita

High-Risk Specialists in Rural Texas

Rural Texas Patient Care Physicians Per Population During the Liability Crisis Period

Rural Texas Patient Care Physicians Per Population During the Post-Liability Crisis Period

Sixty-two Rural Texas Counties See Gains in Emergency Medicine Physicians

Thirty-two Rural Texas Counties Add an Obstetrician

Twenty-three Rural Texas Counties Add a Cardiologist

National Perspective

The Association of American Medical Colleges collects comparative data on physician supply in all 50 states. During the past six years, only California has added more patient care doctors than Texas. And remember, California’s population is 50% greater than that of Texas. Only Utah bested Texas in percentage growth. From 2008-2014, the most current years for which data is available, the Lone Star State ranked 20th in per population physician growth; a remarkable accomplishment given our explosive population growth.

The Association of American Medical Colleges Active Patient Care Physicians 2012-2014

The Association of American Medical Colleges Active Patient Care Physicians 2008-2014