Results of a three-year study to estimate the future supply and requirements for physicians, which was conducted by the Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee (GMENAC), are summarized. The research methodology, which consisted of three mathematical models to project physician supply and requirements, is described, and 40 recommendations to solve health manpower problems of 1990-2000 are presented. Additionally, federal government private commission initiatives from 1955 through 1980 to deal with health manpower problems are considered, and the function of GMENAC technical panels are addressed. The findings indicate the following: there will be 70,000 more physicians than required in 1990; most specialties will have a surplus; some specialties will be in balance (e.g., osteopathic general practice, family practice, general internal medicine, and general pediatrics); shortages will be experienced in psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and emergency medicine; and valid criteria for designating geographic areas as adequately served or underserved have not been developed. Among the approaches GMENAC recommends are the following: a 17 percent decrease in U.S. medical school enrollment compared to current levels; sharp restrictions of the entry into the United States of students from foreign medical schools; no further rise in the number of physician health care providers being trained; and prompt adjustments in the number of residency training positions in individual specialties to bring supply into balance with requirements in the 1990s. (SW)