From 1980 to the early 2000s, the US medical industry took actions to limit the number of doctors being trained as reports cited an impending physician surplus. One of the most lasting impacts from this period was the medical school moratorium from 1980 to 2005 which resulted in a dearth of physicians, making US healthcare less accessible. However, in the early 2000s, it became apparent that the nurse surplus narrative was a fiction, which resulted in the American Association of Medical Colleges requesting to increase enrolment by up to 30% by 2006. Despite this, the US has not yet caught up with its international peers in terms of physician per capita.
https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-planning-of-u-s-physician-shortages/