Delaware House passes bill that continues recent efforts to strengthen primary care system in the state

On June 29, the Delaware House passed a bill that continues recent efforts to strengthen the primary care system in the state by:

1. Directing the Health Care Commission to monitor compliance with value-based care-delivery models and develop and monitor compliance with alternative payment methods that promote value-based care.
2. Requiring rate-filings limit aggregate unit price growth for inpatient, outpatient, and other medical services to certain percentage increases over the next 4 years.
3. Requiring an insurance carrier to spend a certain percentage of its total cost on primary care over the next 4 years.
4. Requiring the Office of Value-Based Health Care Delivery to establish mandatory minimums for payment innovations, including alternative payment models, and evaluate annually whether primary care spending is increasing in compliance with the established mandatory minimums for payment innovations.

The senate passed the bill in May.

The legislation is modeled on Rhode Island's pathbreaking "affordability standards" that give the state insurance commissioner authority to promote investment in primary care through review of insurance plans' rates.