Live Online Policy Forum 

# Expanding Access to Primary Care by Removing Barriers to Assistant Physicians 

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Date and Time 

May 22, 2023 12 - 1 PM EDT 

Location 

Live Online 

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##### Featuring 

![k-Dayaratna-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2023-05/k-Dayaratna-cropped.jpg?itok=5WD4hgBC) 

Kevin D. Dayaratna, PhD 

Chief Statistician and Senior Research Fellow, Center for Data Analysis, Heritage Foundation

[ 

](https://twitter.com/kdd0211) 

![k-Frederick-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2023-05/k-Frederick-cropped.jpg?itok=9HQTwXLe) 

Keith J. Frederick, DO 

Orthopedic Surgeon, Former Member of the Missouri House of Representatives, 121st District

[ 

](https://twitter.com/keithjfrederick) 

![l-Wostrel-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2023-05/l-Wostrel-cropped.jpg?itok=9pjIhjxo) 

Lyman Wostrel, MD 

CEO, Zion Asher Family Physicians, Mount Vernon, Missouri

[![jeff-singer-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-05/jeff-singer-cropped.jpg?itok=G_0nEnx7)](/people/jeffrey-singer) 

[Jeffrey A. Singer](/people/jeffrey-singer)

Senior Fellow, Cato Institute

[ 

](https://x.com/dr4liberty) [ 

](mailto:jsinger@cato.org) 

The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortage of as many as 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034. Yet there are not enough residency positions for the number of medical school graduates. Missouri became the first state to address this problem by launching a new licensure category: assistant physician (AP). APs are essentially apprentice physicians. The reform lets graduates without a residency position provide primary care in clinics while enhancing their knowledge and skills. Six other states have passed similar laws: Arkansas, Kansas, Utah, Arizona, Louisiana, and Idaho.

Please join **Kevin D. Dayaratna, PhD**, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis; **Keith J. Frederick, DO**, a former Missouri legislator who spearheaded the country’s first AP law; and **Lyman Wostrel, MD**, a primary care physician practicing under Missouri’s AP law, to discuss this issue. Cato Institute senior fellow **Jeffrey A. Singer, MD**, will moderate the discussion.

## Additional Resources

- “[Expand Access to Primary Care: Remove Barriers to Assistant Physicians](https://www.cato.org/briefing-paper/expand-access-primary-care-remove-barriers-assistant-physicians),” by Jeffrey A. Singer, MD & Spencer Pratt
- “[Using Unmatched Medical Graduates to Improve Access to Care in Texas](https://www.texaspolicy.com/using-unmatched-medical-graduates-to-improve-access-to-care-in-texas/),” by Kevin Dayaratna, Ph.D., John O’Shea, M.D. & David Balat
- “[Addressing the Physician Shortage by Taking Advantage of an Untapped Medical Resource](https://www.heritage.org/public-health/report/addressing-the-physician-shortage-taking-advantage-untapped-medical-resource),” by Kevin Dayaratna & John O’Shea
- “[Health Care Workforce Reform: COVID-19 Spotlights Need for Changes to Clinician Licensing](https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/health-care-workforce-reform-covid-19-spotlights-need-changes-clinician-licensing),” by Shirley Svorny & Michael F. Cannon
- “[One Simple Fix for the Primary Care Shortage: Assistant Physicians](https://www.statnews.com/2023/05/18/assistant-physicians-missouri-law/),” by Jeffrey A. Singer

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