The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is expected to provide health insurance to 25 million Americans by 2016 (Congressional Budget Office, 2014). U.S. demographics are also changing in ways that will put increased demands on the healthcare system. Both of these changes will lead to increased demand for healthcare in the United States. Due to the limited number of healthcare providers, a shortage of workers will result, which will ultimately drive up prices and costs. One method to prevent this shortage is to remove barriers that limit the expansion of the supply of health care providers. The U.S. population is aging: The Census Bureau reported that the population of people under 45 has fallen from 65.6% in 2000 to 60.5%. % in 2010. While the percentage of people aged 65 and over increased by 15% between 2000 and 2010 (US Census, 2011, p.2). Age is associated with increased demand for health care. More than 56% of people aged 65 and over and 65% of people aged 75 and over make four or more visits to health professionals. While only 31% of people aged 18 to 44 make four or more visits (US Census, 2012, table 166). In 2000, people over 65 used hospitals three times more than the general population, and people over 75 used hospitals four times more than the general population (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003, p .8). Therefore, as the aging population leads to an increasing demand for healthcare. With the aging population and thus increasing demand for health care, the United States must increase the supply of health care professionals. Several studies have attempted to calculate the increased demand for primary care physicians since the ACA was passed. ...... middle of paper ...... to economic rents (Folland, Goodman and Stano, 2010, p. 335). Others determined in 1998 that physicians' monopoly power allowed them to charge 23 percent above their marginal cost (Folland, Goodman, & Stano, 2010, p. 335). As long as the AMA limits the number of new doctors training and leaving If the United States cannot significantly increase the number of doctors to meet changing demographics and the additional number of people receiving health care from the ACA, health care costs will increase. Several alternatives have been proposed to mitigate the effects of the doctor shortage. First, doctors could reduce the average time spent with patients, allowing them to see more patients. Second, nurse practitioners and physician assistants could be used more effectively to reduce the burden on physicians and provide health care to more people..