June Policy Takeaways: Better Health NOW Sees Forward Progress in CMS Strategy
Amidst Primary Care Crisis, Strategy Must Be Turned Into Action
The new CMS Innovation Center primary care strategy envisions multiple pathways to strengthen primary care financing, including a potential hybrid primary care payment option – championed by Better Health - NOW.
CMS’ strategy clearly articulates core Better Health – NOW Campaign principles, including multiple pathways that help a variety of practices move toward prospective, population-based payment, added investment in primary care, and an enhanced focus on equity. But an expansive strategy must be matched by concrete policy change on multiple fronts: bringing broad-scale change to Medicare’s permanent programs, strengthening primary care in Medicaid and CHIP, and supporting behavioral health integration.
Recent national headlines, including a KFF/USA Today story quoting PCC President and CEO Ann Greiner, continue to document the unfolding crisis in primary care. This only reinforces the urgency of bolder, wide-scale policy shifts necessary to achieve Better Health – NOW.
