The number of physicians enrolling in geriatric fellowship programs continues to drop, according to a report by The New York Times.
According to the report, just 251 physicians chose geriatrics as their specialty as of December 2011, down from 279 the year before.
The declining number of geriatricians could pose a problem as America's population continues to age and require physicians specialized in treating the elderly.
A possible cause of the specialty's lowered popularity is the low reimbursements: Mostly all of geriatricians' patients are on Medicare, according to the report, which pays less than private insurers.
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According to the report, just 251 physicians chose geriatrics as their specialty as of December 2011, down from 279 the year before.
The declining number of geriatricians could pose a problem as America's population continues to age and require physicians specialized in treating the elderly.
A possible cause of the specialty's lowered popularity is the low reimbursements: Mostly all of geriatricians' patients are on Medicare, according to the report, which pays less than private insurers.
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