primary care shortage Archives - TPR: The Public's Radio

Valley Medical Group, a prominent primary care practice in western Massachusetts, has been struggling financially, but the doctors there didn't want to sell the practice to a hospital system. Instead they recently joined an Independent Physician Association (IPA).

NPR

Primary care is in trouble. Doctors are banding together to increase market power

by Karen Brown February 16, 2026February 16, 2026

As costs increase, primary care practices are joining forces in Independent Physician Associations. The goal is to leverage better insurance contracts, while ensuring doctors still call the shots.

Tammy MacDonald is a director at Blue Hills Adult Education in Dedham, Mass. When she needed a new primary care doctor, she was turned away by ten practices. A few told her she could get an appointment after waiting a year and a half, or even two years.

NPR

Your next primary care doctor could be online only, accessed through an AI tool

by Martha Bebinger January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

The shortage of primary care doctors is a national problem. To cope, a large health system in Massachusetts is using an AI tool to screen patients and refer them to other care.

Dr. Rebecca Starr is an internist specializing in geriatric care. When she opened her own practice, she chose a concierge business model, she says, because she wanted to offer patients longer appointments, including time to talk about nutrition and other subjects, but be able to charge enough to make the business work.

NPR

Long wait for a rushed doctor’s visit? Maybe you’ll get more with a ‘membership’ fee

by Karen Brown March 28, 2025March 28, 2025

The growing number of concierge medical practices limit the number of patients and charge them membership fees. Will this worsen the ongoing shortage of primary care doctors for everyone else?