The Geographic Distribution of Physicians in the United States and the Contribution of International Medical Graduates

Abstract

Many agree that the United States is headed for a physician surplus. Policy makers have concentrated on limiting residency training positions, particularly those filled by international medical graduates (IMGs), as a means of shrinking the future workforce. Some criticize this policy as counterproductive since it is commonly thought that many IMGs practice in areas shunned by U.S.-trained physicians. This study applies the GINI index of concentration to assess the geographic distribution of physicians and the contribution of IMGs to improving or exacerbating the distribution. 7he authors find that physician growth has not produced dividends in geographic distribution and that IMGs generally worsen these distributions.