Physician shortage is a crisis we can’t afford to ignore
As a resident of Lewes and someone deeply invested in the well-being of our community, I want to commend the Delaware Healthcare Association for its recently released 2025 federal advocacy agenda, as reported in the Cape Gazette Feb. 24. I also want to recognize journalist Kevin T. Conlon for his outstanding work in researching and shedding light on Delaware’s primary care physician shortage. His reporting has brought much-needed attention to this critical issue, and I am hopeful he will continue to cover it. Informed, ongoing journalism plays a vital role in raising awareness and helping to bring about the reforms our state so urgently needs.
One issue that struck a personal chord with me – and with many friends and neighbors – is the shortage of primary care physicians in Delaware. Like many, I’ve had to explore alternative options to ensure reliable access to care, including subscription-based services. Some even travel out of state to find consistent primary care. While these solutions work for some, they highlight a deeper concern: dependable, community-based care is becoming harder to access, with serious consequences for seniors and those managing chronic health conditions.
DHA’s focus on fair and adequate medical reimbursement is a vital step toward solving this crisis. When private practice and hospital-based physicians are properly supported, they’re more likely to establish and stay in our communities. That means better access to care, shorter wait times, and a stronger, more resilient healthcare system.
By advocating for the protection of Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, as well as expanded graduate medical education and greater insurer accountability, DHA is taking bold and necessary steps forward.
I encourage every Delawarean who values access to high-quality healthcare to contact their state legislators and the governor’s office. Let them know that addressing the healthcare workforce shortage – especially through improved reimbursement policies – must remain a top priority. Our voices matter, and together we can help shape a healthcare system that truly meets the needs of our state.
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