In a result that underlines the increasing scarcity of doctors nationwide, a survey by physician search firm Merritt Hawkins shows that the average wait time for a physician appointment has increased 30 percent since 2014.

Wait times vary significantly by metropolitan area, the survey shows. Boston-area residents face the longest average wait time to see a family physician at 109 days. The average physician wait time in Los Angeles is significantly shorter at 24 days. Of 15 major metropolitan areas, Dallas residents experience the shortest average wait time at 15 days.

To download graphics that summarize the findings, please click here. For information on accessing the complete report, scroll to the bottom of this article.

Wait times can be even longer in rural communities and small towns, said Mark Smith, president of Merritt Hawkins.

“Finding a physician who can see you today, or three weeks from today, can be a challenge, even in large urban areas where there is a relatively robust supply of doctors,” Smith said. “The challenge becomes even more difficult in smaller communities that have fewer physicians per population.”

The survey also tracked how many physicians accept Medicare and Medicaid as a form of payment. The average rate of physician Medicare acceptance is 85 percent in the 15 large metro markets and 81 percent in the 15 mid-sized markets. The average rate of physician Medicaid acceptance is 53 percent in the large metro markets and 60 percent in the mid-sized markets, according to the survey.

According to Smith, the survey suggests that physician supply and accessibility will need to be enhanced as the health care system continues to evolve.   

“More physicians will need to be trained, access to other types of providers expanded, and emerging technologies employed to ensure that health care delayed does not become health care denied,” Smith said.       

Additional information about Merritt Hawkins’ 2017 Survey of Physician Appointment Wait Times and Medicare and Medicaid Acceptance Rates can be accessed at www.merritthawkins.com.

Merritt Hawkins is a leading physician search firm and a HASC endorsed business partner.

Contact:
Teri Hollingsworth
(213) 538-0763
thollingsworth@hasc.org