The United States is facing unprecedented rates of chronic physical and mental illness. To reverse this trend, more people need to connect to primary care and build relationships with trusted clinicians who address their needs holistically and work with them to achieve better health outcomes. Yet in today’s U.S. health care system, requiring even a nominal copayment, coinsurance or deductible for primary care can deter patients from seeking care. This can cause crucial primary care relationships to either never form or face disruption.
This following brief discusses federal policy options and outlines key insights from research and practice regarding the impact of primary care cost-sharing on care, affordability, health outcomes and the bottom line.