Since you are in the field - is it true that residencies are funded from Medicare or Medicade, not sure which one, which effectively caps the number available.
Had a friend who kid was working to get into medical school, and I asked why, if we need so many more docs, don’t they just add more open slots in medical schools.
His response was they could - though that’s not easy either, but even if they did, the number of available residencies is out of their control and controlled by federal funding. If they added more class there would just be a bottle neck at the residency stage after expensive medical school instead of before…
Thank you in advance if you have time to respond.
Yes, CMS (Center for medicare services) funds residencies and CMS is funded ever year by congress at the federal level. Interestingly Medicaid, though a state service, also receives block grants from the federal government.
Each resident has a budget far greater than an attending physician blocked to the hospitals because the are “learning” and will generally order more tests / procedures etc which are reimbursed. Residents are actual a profit to the medical center that has a residency.
The way the federal government controls healthcare is disgusting. Consider this — what most people get promoted for in business ends a doc in an orange jump suit. Getting trial lawyers and the federal government out of the way would create a far superior system.