Physicians in the United States Congress
20th and 21st century
### 20th and 21st century

The number of physicians serving and running for Congress has risen over the last 50 years from 5 in 1960, down to 3 in 1970 and a low of 2 in 1990 up to 10 (in 2000\) to a maximum of 21, including one female physician, in 2013, as of 2015, there were 18, and as of 2017 a small decrease to 15 physicians.

Possible explanations for the increase since the 1990s have been increasing [health care spending](/wiki/Health_care_finance_in_the_United_States "Health care finance in the United States") and increased [health care reform debate in the United States](/wiki/Health_care_reform_debate_in_the_United_States "Health care reform debate in the United States"), leading up to the [Healthcare Reform Act](/wiki/Affordable_Health_Care_for_America_Act "Affordable Health Care for America Act").


What specific policies or reforms led to a decrease in the number of physicians serving and running for Congress between 2015 and 2017?