With more physician Medicare pay cuts proposed for 2027, a new comprehensive, bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would finally make structural changes that are needed to prevent those cuts and create a payment system that helps ensure that America’s seniors have access to quality, value-based healthcare.
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The Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) hosted “Primary Care Wins in the 2027 MPFS,” an online webinar devoted to the proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). PCC President and CEO Ann Greiner, M.C.P., talked through the rule’s primary care provisions with Jake Quinton, M.D., chief medical officer for Medicare Parts A and B at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). A second panel, also moderated by Greiner, brought in Aisha Pittman, M.P.H., senior vice president of government affairs at the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS); Stephanie Quinn, senior vice president of external affairs and practice experience at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP); and Nima Sheth, M.D., M.P.H., vice president of health justice at the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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Every other week, the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) gathers major new stories, opinion pieces, research articles, case studies and more covering primary care.
Want to submit a piece? Feel free to email the piece to PCC Communications Associate Maximilian Sandefer at msandefer@thepcc.org.
Physicians make the case for funding primary care as a public good
Austin Littrell, Medical Economics
This article argues that primary care should be treated as essential public infrastructure rather than just another billable health care service. Littrell makes the case that stronger investment in primary care would improve access, reduce downstream costs and support healthier communities.
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE: How California’s public purchasers are joining forces to strengthen primary care
Drs. S. Monica Soni, Palav Babaria and Julia Logan, California Health Care Foundation
This piece explores how public purchasers in California are coordinating efforts to better support primary care. By aligning payment and accountability strategies, the initiative aims to strengthen preventive care, improve access and reduce fragmentation.
Massachusetts Primary Care Dashboard continues to highlight alarming trends for primary care
Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP)
The Massachusetts Primary Care Dashboard shows continued warning signs around access, workforce capacity and investment in primary care. The findings reinforce concerns that without stronger support, primary care practices may struggle to meet patient demand.
Ever have trouble getting a primary care appointment? This Mass. Senate bill could help
John L. Micek, MassLive
The Massachusetts Senate is preparing to vote on legislation intended to improve access to primary care and address health care affordability. The bill underscores how many state policymakers are increasingly viewing primary care investment as central to cost containment and patient access.
OPINION: Why America is failing its health report card
Robert B. Shpiner, The Guardian
This opinion piece critiques the high cost and uneven performance of the U.S. health care system. Its arguments connect to primary care by underscoring how underinvestment in prevention and frontline care can contribute to poor outcomes and high spending.
PERSPECTIVE: Cutting Through the Chaos in Primary Care
Dr. Fred Pelzman, MedPage Today
This commentary focuses on the role of patient-centered medical homes in improving care coordination and access. The model is closely tied to primary care because it emphasizes long-term relationships, team-based care and whole-person support.
Downcoding reform bill clears Illinois legislature on unanimous vote
Illinois State Medical Society, World Advertising Report
Illinois lawmakers advanced a bill addressing insurer downcoding practices, which can reduce payment for care already delivered. The issue is especially relevant to primary care practices that rely on predictable reimbursement to remain financially sustainable.
What physician practices need to know about insurance downcoding
Ansley Franco, Birmingham Medical News
This article explains how insurance downcoding affects physician practice revenue and administrative workflows. For primary care practices, downcoding can worsen financial strain and add to the burden of appealing claims.
New Medicaid Rules Imperil Primary Care Access
Ann Greiner, the PCC
The PCC issued a statement expressing disappointment toward the June 1, 2026, interim final rule affecting the Medicaid program. Read our full statement.
Medicaid work reqs IFR limits medically frail exemption, self-attestation
Dorothy Mills-Gregg, Amy Lotven, Sigi Ris, InsideHealthPolicy
This article examines new limits on self-attestation for medically frail Medicaid enrollees under work requirement rules. These documentation barriers could create coverage disruptions for patients who rely on Medicaid to maintain access to primary care and chronic disease management.
Industry groups say final Medicaid work requirements rule imposes onerous documentation
Paige Minemyer, Fierce Healthcare
Health care industry groups are raising concerns that Medicaid work requirement rules will create burdensome paperwork for patients, clinicians and state agencies. For primary care practices, coverage churn can interrupt preventive care and worsen health outcomes for vulnerable patients.
Medicaid work requirements: Experts say millions will lose coverage
Tara Bannow, Chelsea Cirruzzo and Daniel Payne, Stat+
Experts warn that Medicaid work requirements could lead to large-scale coverage losses, even among eligible individuals. Loss of coverage may reduce access to primary care, delay treatment and increase reliance on emergency departments.
Will CMS’ last-minute Medicaid work requirement changes cause more harm?
Marissa Plescia, MedCity News
This article looks at concerns surrounding CMS changes to Medicaid work requirement policy. The piece raises questions about whether administrative changes could increase confusion and make it harder for patients to maintain stable access to care.
Medicaid work requirements set with stricter medical frailty guidelines; critics push back
Melissa Patrick, Northern Kentucky Tribune
This article discusses stricter medical frailty guidelines connected to Medicaid work requirements. Critics argue the policy could make it harder for medically vulnerable patients to remain covered, affecting access to primary and preventive care.
PCC Urges Administration to Listen to Clinician Voices on Vaccines
Ann Greiner, The PCC
The PCC has responded to an executive order issued on May 29, 2026 that instructs the Department of Health and Human Services to make additional changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. Read our full statement.
Why fragmented care misses older adults’ mental health needs
Creagh Milford, SmartBrief
This article examines how fragmented health care systems can overlook mental health needs among older adults. Integrating behavioral health into primary care could improve early identification, coordination and support for aging patients.
Millions skip colon cancer screening amid rise
Kaitlyn Mills, Considerable
This article highlights gaps in colon cancer screening despite rising concern about early-onset cases. Primary care clinicians are central to improving screening rates by counseling patients, identifying risk factors and coordinating preventive testing.
Providers not seeing prior authorization improvement
Rich Daly, HFMA
Clinicians report that prior authorization reforms have not yet meaningfully reduced administrative burden. In primary care, prior authorization delays can slow referrals, testing, medications and care coordination.
States’ all-payer claims databases can help CMS more accurately value services
Shankar Mesta, Andre Chappel and Douglas Jacobs, Health Affairs
This article argues that state all-payer claims databases could help CMS better understand and value health care services. More accurate data could support payment reforms that better reflect the value of primary care and preventive services.
HMSA doctors can postpone transition to new payment model
Dan Nakaso, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
HMSA is allowing physicians to delay the transition to a new payment model for six months after concerns from Hawaii’s medical community. The delay may give primary care practices more time to adapt to payment changes that could affect operations and patient access.
Curbing Primary Care Administrative Burden
The PCC
Learn in a new fact sheet how streamlining quality measurement, standardizing electronic prior authorization, advancing interoperability and reforming payment models offer clear pathways to reduce clinician burden, improve workforce satisfaction and strengthen overall care delivery.
Children’s well-being plummets across 29 states, report finds
Andria Park Huynh, HealthDay
A new report finds worsening child well-being across many states, raising concerns about mental health, economic stability and access to care. Primary care plays a key role in screening children, connecting families to services and identifying early warning signs.
Report underscores the numbers behind RI’s primary care crisis
Jonny Williams, Providence Journal
A Rhode Island report finds that many residents continue to struggle to access primary care. The findings point to shortages, affordability concerns and system-level barriers that limit timely care.
HMSA’s payment system pivot has Hawaii’s medical community reeling
Nina Wu, West Hawaii Today
Hawaii physicians are raising concerns about changes to HMSA’s payment system and the potential effects on practice stability. Primary care practices may be particularly vulnerable when payment models shift quickly or without sufficient transition support.
Gillibrand says HHS administrative backlogs contribute to doctor shortage in NY
The Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Orleans Hub
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is raising concerns that federal administrative backlogs are contributing to physician shortages in New York. Delays in workforce-related processes can affect communities that already struggle to recruit and retain primary care clinicians.
Vermont lawmakers have adjourned for the year. Here’s what they did and didn’t do in 2026
Lola Duffort, Carly Berlin, Peter Hirschfeld and Bob Kinzel, Vermont Public
This article reviews major actions taken by Vermont lawmakers during the 2026 session, including primary care (and health care at-large) legislation.
WA is about to face even more of a shortage of family medicine doctors
Becca, Wolinsky, The Seattle Times
This opinion piece warns that Washington state may soon face worsening shortages of family medicine physicians. The article emphasizes the need for policy and training solutions that support the primary care workforce.
OPINION: California’s physician shortage demands practical solutions. AB 2386 is one of them
Lawson Mansell and Jonathan Wolfson, The Orange County Register
This opinion piece argues that California needs practical legislative solutions to address physician shortages. Strengthening the physician pipeline is especially important for primary care access in high-need communities.
Rhode Island has a primary care problem. Health Insurance Commissioner Cory King has a plan
Nancy Lavin, News From The States
Rhode Island’s health insurance commissioner is proposing strategies to address the state’s ongoing primary care access challenges. The article highlights the importance of payment reform, workforce support and stronger investment to stabilize primary care delivery.
North Huntsville clinic aims to expand access to primary care
Derek Lacey, Axios Huntsville
A North Huntsville clinic is working to address local primary care access needs in Alabama. The effort highlights how community-based clinics can help reduce gaps in underserved areas.
How ambient AI eases the pain of rural workforce shortages
Becker’s Hospital Review (in collaboration with Heidi)
This article explores how ambient AI tools may help reduce documentation burden in rural health care settings. For primary care clinicians facing workforce shortages, AI-supported documentation could free up time for patient care and reduce burnout.
PERSPECTIVE: Can AI Save the Primary Care Exam Room From Quality Creep?
Dr. Jeffrey Millstein, MedPage Today
This commentary focuses on the double-edged sword that AI advancements bring into primary care, arguing that it “can restore the doctor-patient relationship or entrench metrics that have strained it.”
This compilation was created with support from an AI tool.
On April 30, Providence Swedish announced a plan to cut the number of family medicine physicians it trains in Seattle by six per year while consolidating its residency programs, a plan leadership hopes to finalize by July 1.
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Comprehensive primary care promises to transform the U.S. health care system by unlocking powerful health improvements and cost savings for patients and taxpayers. By investing in primary care, lawmakers can improve the health and wellbeing of all Americans.
The package of fact sheets below examines the state of primary care in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Comprehensive primary care promises to transform the U.S. health care system by unlocking powerful health improvements and cost savings for patients and taxpayers. By investing in primary care, lawmakers can improve the health and wellbeing of all Americans.
The fact sheet below examines the state of primary care in Washington.
Primary care needs help. Years of research have shown how improved access to high-quality primary care results in better health outcomes for people and communities, yet systemic undervaluation and a diminishing workforce threatens this foundation of our health care system.
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This legislation requires health carriers to annually report primary care expenditures
The United States has the highest spending per person on health care in the world but lags behind other high-income countries in terms of health outcomes. Primary care improves health outcomes, lowers costs over time, and reduces disparities. However, this critical foundation of the health care system is crumbling.
The policy playbook presents a step-by-step guide for state policymakers and policy influencers looking to support high-quality primary care by transforming payment. In addition to policies advancing APMs for state-regulated commercial plans, the playbook also covers related areas of primary care payment reform found to be critical to their success: primary care investment and multi-payer alignment.
Read the full report.
This bill requires health carriers to report primary care expenditures annually.