The effect of government policy on family practice programs

Government, both federal and state, has long recognized that the American public does not have ready access to primary care physicians. Federal and state legislation has been passed to establish and fund family practice programs to alleviate the shortage of primary care physicians. In addition to federal and state funds, family practice programs receive financial support from hospitals and generate patient fee income. In the current era of cost containment, family practice programs are more dependent on patient fee income and hospital support.