The designation of health professional shortage areas has not contributed to significant changes in mortality or physician density in the designated counties, according to a recent study published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at New Haven, Conn.-based Yale University, examined the health professional shortage area program, which was first introduced in 1965 and offers physician incentives such as higher Medicare reimbursement and student loan forgiveness for practicing in underserved areas.
The study used difference-in-differences design with matching to compare county levels of mortality or physician density from 1970 to 2018 following an HPSA designation with those without the designation and found no statistically significant changes in the two measures.
The study also found that 73% of counties designated as HPSAs remained physician shortage areas for at least a decade after they first joined the program.