Medical Society: Physicians Leaving Michigan After Residency Programs

The Michigan State Medical Society has raised concerns that an 8 percent cut in Medicare and Medicaid funds may exacerbate an already staggering number of physicians that leave the state after completing their residency training, according to a report in the South Bend Tribune.

A total of 42,960 physicians are licensed in Michigan, and 27 percent work outside of the state, according to the report. MSMS says that this is often the result of physicians-in-training completing residencies outside of the state and not returning.

Physicians who currently practice in Michigan are seeing as many patients as possible, and 61 percent reported their practices as full or nearly full in 2009, up from 42 percent in 2005, according to the report. Full practices mean patients may find it difficult to access care.

MSMS noted that partnerships with universities and developing creative programs to reduce or forgive medical students' debt were essential to keeping physicians in the state.

Read the Tribune's report on disappearing Michigan physicians.