Primary Care Investment: Lessons Learned from Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Groups

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The Primary Care Collaborative reviewed multi-stakeholder advisory groups in eight states that are measuring primary care spending, including how the groups relate to state government and the role they play in primary care measurement, investment, and health-system reform efforts. States utilize multi-stakeholder advisory groups in a range of roles—from expert advisers to influencers, to partners and implementers of new payment and care-delivery models. The studied states cluster around three distinct, but often overlapping, strategies for using primary care measurement to spur investment and care transformation:

1. Using data and public reporting to set expectations, targets, and monitor progress
2. Exercising state healthcare purchasing and contracting authorities
3. Leveraging regulatory and oversight authority over health insurers and providers

Using interviews, a written survey of stakeholders and state leaders, review of laws, executive orders, meeting minutes and agendas, and short case studies, we describe the roles, composition, and activities of multi-stakeholder primary care advisory groups. We then highlight characteristics and processes of more effective multi-stakeholder groups as reported by participants. This brief aims to generate discussion and assist states and stakeholders who are considering embarking on primary care investment initiatives and those making strides on the path to health-system transformation.

Download the briefing paper.

For information about primary care spending in individual states, also see:

Primary Care Spending: High Stakes, Low Investment
the PCC’s annual evidence-based report for 2020

The report shows that the U.S. health system’s investment in primary care, as measured by primary care spending, is low and declined between 2017 and 2019, both in a majority of states and nationally. The findings support a growing body of literature showing that health systems with a foundation of robust, comprehensive primary care achieve better, more equitable health outcomes and are less costly.