The US is heading toward a rheumatologist shortage — and rural communities will feel it most. New workforce projections show that by 2037, nonmetropolitan areas will have just 18.5% of the rheumatologists they need, compared to 99.3% adequacy in cities. The South and states like Idaho, West Virginia, and Mississippi are among the hardest hit.
The US is on track for a significant rheumatologist shortage, and the burden won't be shared equally. A new microsimulation study using federal workforce data projects that while the national supply of rheumatologists will grow from 7,810 to 8,780 full-time equivalents (FTEs) by 2037, demand will also rise — leaving overall workforce adequacy at just 89.5%, up only slightly from 86.7% in 2025.
The real concern is geography. Nonmetropolitan areas are projected to have a workforce adequacy of just 18.5% by 2037, compared to 99.3% in metropolitan regions. Regionally, the South fares worst, with adequacy expected to dip to 73.4%, while the Northeast leads at 128%. At the state level, Idaho is projected to see adequacy fall further to just 14.3% by 2037.
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Why it matters: Millions of Americans with arthritis and other rheumatologic conditions already struggle to access specialists. Without targeted policy interventions — from training pipeline expansion to telehealth investment — rural patients could face even longer waits and worsening outcomes in the years ahead.
