PCPCC Applauds CMS Initiative to Deliver New Medicare Payment Models Emphasizing the Centrality of Primary Care
“Primary care is a small slice of health spending overall, but it has a significant impact on downstream costs and quality.”
- Alex M. Azar II, Secretary of HHS
Washington, DC--April 23, 2019– The Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) applauds CMS for its new Primary Cares Initiative, an innovative approach to Medicare payment models that reinforces the centrality of primary care to achieve better patient health and value.
The announcement yesterday by HHS Secretary Alex Azar, CMS Administrator Seema Verma, and CMMI Director Adam Boehler occurred after an unprecedented, invitation-only meeting that PCPCC participated in and builds on recent conversations PCPCC has had with CMMI about how to achieve the critical goals of enhancing the health of our nation by investing more resources in advanced primary care delivery models.
"We were pleased to participate in the development of these significant new Medicare payment models, and commend top HHS leaders for focusing on the centrality of primary care to achieve enhanced patient value," said Ann Greiner, PCPCC President and CEO. "This is a major step in the right direction by the nation’s largest payer, one that promises to transform the role primary care plays in our national healthcare system."
There are two basic models in the Primary Cares Initiative which targets beneficiaries in traditional Medicare — Primary Care First (a new track within CPC+) and Direct Contracting — and both contain separate tracks for patients with multiple complex chronic conditions or acute illnesses who are not receiving well-coordinated care.
PCPCC looks forward to continuing to work with HHS leaders on achieving additional goals
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The Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative
Founded in 2006, the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) is a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder membership organization dedicated to advancing an effective and efficient health system built on a strong foundation of primary care and the patient-centered medical home. Representing a broad group of public and private organizations, PCPCC’s mission is to unify and engage diverse stakeholders in promoting policies and sharing best practices that support growth of high-performing primary care and achieve the “Quadruple Aim”: better care, better health, lower costs, and greater joy for clinicians and staff in delivery of care.
PCPCC is and will position itself as an advocacy organization—a coalition that serves as a “driver of change,” educating and advocating for ideas, concepts, policies, and programs that advance the goals of high-performing primary care as the foundation of our health care system. For more information about PCPCC, visit www.pcpcc.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Arlyn Riskind, ariskind@pcpcc.org; 202-431-9495
Additional Resources:
Press release: HHS NEWS: HHS To Deliver Value-Based Transformation in Primary Care
CMS Primary Cares Initiative Fact Sheet
Primary Care First Payment Model
