The Impact of the Health Professions Educational Assistance Act on State Mental Health Systems

One effect of the Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1976 is to severely limit the number of foreign medical graduates entering the United States. To examine the impact of the law in Michigan, the authors gathered data on the number of psychiatrists practicing in the state and projected future manpower needs. They conclude that it is unlikely that, given other provisions in the law, American medical graduates can numerically replace foreign medical graduates, and that alternative manpower resources will have to be developed. State mental health systems must form new relationships with universities and the private psychiatric sector, and new methods of training personnel and sharing resources must be developed. The authors emphasize the importance of giving state mental health systems sufficient time and resources to develop effective manpower plans.