Rural US loses 43% of independent physicians: 5 things to know

Rural US loses 43% of independent physicians: 5 things to know 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 4/7/25 
The number of independent physicians in U.S. rural areas declined 43% over five years — from 21,956 in January 2019 to 12,467 in January 2024 — according to an Avalere study sponsored by the Physicians Advocacy Institute. ... Five things to know:

1. From 2019 to 2024, rural areas lost nearly 2,500 total physicians. This represents a 5% decline from approximately 52,600 to 50,100.
2. Likewise, the number of medical practices in rural areas fell from 30,000 at the beginning of 2019 to 26,700 in January 2024, an 11% decline.
3. [Continue reading ...]