Texas Has The Opportunity To Help Address The Physician Shortage

In addition to higher health care premiums and deductibles, Texas is also facing a massive physician shortage. And it's something that Nicholas Armstrong is sounding the alarm on, at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

"Texas is projected to be short over 10,300 doctors by the year 2032" said Armstrong, "What Texas is trying to do, and other states, is trying to bring more doctors into the state by creating an alternative licensing pathway for doctors who receive their education outside of the U.S., and are doctors in other countries."

Currently, licensed foreign doctors who want to practice here in the U.S., still have to complete a 3-9 year residency.

"If these doctors hit certain metrics, they would be able to omit the U.S. based residency requirement, and practice under the supervision of a fully licensed doctor here in Texas" Armstrong told KTRH.

Or put another way, rather than having Americans leave the country to find doctors, this would help bring the doctors here to the U.S.

Some of the 10 states that have already moved forward include Florida and Tennessee.