June Policy Takeaways: Better Health NOW Sees Forward Progress in CMS Strategy

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.