How many new patients can primary care physicians expect from the ACA?

The strain on primary care physicians (PCPs) will likely worsen as the new patients enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance plans arrive. But just how many more patients should a PCP expect?

According to an analysis by telehealth company Teladoc, each PCP should expect to gain nine more patients. The company estimates that of the 7 million new ACA enrollees, 2 million were previously uninsured. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, there are 210,000 PCPs in the United States.

“For the ACA to truly create access to the millions seeking healthcare, the medical industry as a whole will need to look beyond the traditional channels for answers,” says Teledoc chief executive officer Jason Gorevic.