Better Health – NOW Praises Draft Medicare Payment Rule but Calls for Bolder Action

In comments submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on September 11th, the Primary Care Collaborative’s Better Health – NOW Campaign backed several provisions of Medicare’s proposed 2024 Part B Physician Fee Schedule rule, while urging still bolder action to address the unfolding crisis in primary care workforce and access.

The comments reflect broad consensus across PCC’s multistakeholder Better Health – NOW Campaign. The letter calls on CMS to:

• Invest in whole-person primary care by implementing payment for inherently complex care (the G2211 code) as well as improved reimbursement for behavioral health services and vaccine administration.
• Bolster primary care in ACOs by quickly implementing a PCC/NAACOS hybrid proposal which would offer upfront, population-based payment options to Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) primary care practices.
• Help primary care teams support whole-person health, by finalizing reimbursement for lifestyle change and community health integration as well as improvements to behavioral health integration services.

PCC’s Better Health – NOW Campaign applauds CMS for their efforts to support primary care teams in addressing behavioral health and complex care needs. However, we encourage CMS to respond swiftly to the primary care crisis by increasing investment and offering pathways for practices to transition from fee for service to population-based, prospective payment models.
 

Download and read the full comment letter here.