[gnopgnip]

A number of states allow nurse practitioners, or physicians assistants to do many of the things that only doctors can do in most states, practice independently, admit patients, prescribe medication. But they do not need to go through the match process and residency, so there is not the same kind of monopoly

[ceejayoz]

Nurses and PAs are similarly limited by available slots in their respective educational programs. Our local community college has a 4-5 year wait list for their RN program, as an example.

[gnopgnip]

It is really not comparable though. Doctors are limited by residency and the match in addition to medical school.

[ceejayoz]

They are comparable, though.

In both cases, there's a limited number of slots available for what's fundamentally a required educational program, and increasing that number of slots is difficult on a structural and staffing level.

[gnopgnip]

There is no set limit like with the match or residencies. New schools can open up, existing schools can increase class size or run additional classes to match demand, and they have the incentives to do so.

[ceejayoz]

The match can do that, too. 2019's had 6% more, because more programs joined in. There's no set limit; there's a limit to how many slots Medicare subsidizes, but programs are free to offer self-funded slots over that.