INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GENERALIST PHYSICIANS - A NEW REGULATORY PARADIGM

Increasing the number of generalist physicians has become a major comp onent of health system reform proposals. This change in physician manp ower may be attempted by educational approaches, market-driven respons es, or regulatory requirements, Regulatory approaches may be considere d in the broad contexts of public policy models. Two such models consi dered in this essay include 1) the acceptance of health care as a posi tive claim right that places the responsibility for providing health c are on the state, and 2) a shift in the role of government in general from reacting to public concerns to actively shaping them. Each result s in a greater governmental, regulatory intervention on medical manpow er planning. As these policy constructs gain or lose force or favor, s o too will their impact on medical education.