More Medicaid Patients, but Not Enough Doctors You accurately report that newly enrolled patients in Medicaid under Obamacare will have difficulty with access to care ("Medicaid Growth Could Aggravate Doctor Shortage," front page, Nov. 29). However, the situation is different for specialists compared with primary care physicians. California has an adequate supply of specialists, but they are concentrated in affluent urban communities. If the reimbursement rates are high enough, they will be available. For primary care physicians, there is an absolute shortage, as 42 of California's 58 counties lack the minimum number. Hispanics in California will be disproportionately affected. Although they account for 37 percent of the state's 38 million people, they represent 59 percent of the state's 7.2 million uninsured. Because of high rates of poverty, limited English proficiency and the shortage of primary care doctors, millions of Hispanics will still face geographic, linguistic and cultural barriers to care, even with Medicaid. The writer, a doctor, is chairman of the department of family medicine, University of California Los Angeles. The flood of people signing up for Medicaid and the expanding role of "in-network only coverage" under the Affordable Care Act requires some initiative to increase the number of doctors in general and the number willing to accept Medicaid and to participate in networks. I propose a major government program to provide significant financial assistance to medical students who agree to participate in Medicaid and private insurance networks for a minimum percentage of their practice after their education and training.