Loan repayment

That’s a pretty big string attached. That locks these young doctors into employed positions at clinics dependent on subsidizes from the federal government.

Raising payment to a reasonable level to allow private practice to survive would be “no strings attached”.

Making the economic climate favorable for a physician to practice independently in the affected community is precisely the LAST thing these clinics want.

If that doctor found he/she LIKED the community and set up shop there, it would put the clinic out of business.

Government entities do not put themselves out of business.

There is some phony-baloney MBA-type administrator who would have to get a real job. There’s some nurse-administrator who would have to go back to actually treating patients.

As such, I have seen many cases of physicians who were deliberately made miserable by the administrators. They went out of their way to antagonize the doctors. They wanted the doc to get pissed-off and leave at the end of the contract.

One doc, a personal friend, actually liked his community. By fortunate accident, rural underserved community was very close to major city. Live in nice area, commute to impoverished area, family’s happy, kids in good schools, patients served. Everyone wins.

Shortly afterward, friend tells me he’s leaving. Was made clear to him, the clinic administration would go out of their way to make his life miserable if he stayed. They’d all be out of their jobs.

I couldn’t believe his story…..until I heard the same thing from other docs in similar situations.