Primary Care Investment

Greater investment in primary care is associated with lower costs, higher patient satisfaction, fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits, and lower mortality. Despite current high levels of healthcare spending in the United States, the proportion spent on primary care is insufficient. A shift in resources to support greater access to comprehensive, coordinated primary care is imperative to achieving a stronger, higher-performing healthcare system.

Underinvestment in primary care gives rise to patient access and workforce issues. A significant financial incentive for physicians and other clinicians to choose other areas of specialty undermines primary care.  

States Are Leading the Way:

There are a few states at the forefront of the effort to prioritize advanced primary care through increased spending or measurement designed to encourage increased spending.

Rhode Island 

The state measured and increased its primary care spending from 5.7% in 2008 to 9.1% in 2012. Over this same period, total healthcare expenditures fell 14%

Oregon 

In 2009, Oregon’s legislature established the Patient-Centered Primary Care Home (PCPCH) program and a task force of clinicians, consumers, public health and healthcare delivery experts.

In 2017, Oregon’s legislature unanimously passed legislation setting a minimum threshold for all payers - both commercial and public – of at least 12% of total medical expenditures on primary care.

Delaware

Created a Primary Care Reform Collaborative that will issue written recommendations by January 2019 including whether 12% of health care spending should be directed to primary care.

Next in Line:

While no legislation has been passed, there are a couple of states that have introduced bills that continue to gain support from state policymakers and their consituents. 

Colorado: 

In 2018, Colorado primary care stakeholders came together in support of HB18-1365 – Primary Care Infrastructure Creation. The legislation would have created a primary care payment reform collaborative and reporting on primary care spending by an all payer health claims database. While significant progress was made, the legislation did not pass in 2018.

California:

In 2018, California primary care stakeholders introduced AB-2895, the Primary Care Spending Transparency Act.  Unfortunately, this legislation was not passed.

Vermont: 

In 2015, the Primary Care Payment Work Group identified how a capitation payment model for primary care might be implemented in Vermont. The work included significant analysis of primary care spending, and recommendations increase the share of total healthcare expenditures that flow to primary care provide.

 

primary care investment

On November 9, 2018, PCPCC hosted an Invite-Only Workshop during which primary care thought leaders from across the nation came together to discuss strategies to increase investment in primary care to improve healthcare quality and affordability.  

Key Resources:

Primary Care Investment Consensus Recommendations

PCPCC Primary Care Spending Fact Sheet 

PCPCC Primary Care State Leadership Fact Sheet 

PCPCC Primary Care Investment Logic Model DRAFT

Learn More:

Primary Care Spend Resources:

Supporting Documents: 

PCPCC Webinars:

Go to top