PCC 2025 Fall Forum

On November 6, the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) convened members at its Washington, DC headquarters for its 2025 Fall Forum & Reception. Leaders reflected on the policy landscape, shared priorities for the year ahead and strengthened PCC’s collective advocacy to improve the health of all Americans.

PCC President and CEO Ann Greiner opened the Forum by underscoring the importance of unified action as the PCC shapes its 2026 strategic and policy agenda. 

First, Alec Aramanda (Center for Medicare) held a discussion with Greiner and a subsequent Q&A moderated by Dr. Ravi Kavasery (Blue Shield of California). The session offered timely insights into CMS’s emerging primary care priorities for 2026 and invited members to consider how the PCC can support and influence that work.

This included the finalized 2026 MPFS rule, which implemented key provisions that prioritize primary care. With Medicare’s historical devaluing of time with a primary care clinicians and behavioral health practitioners as compared to costly procedures, Aramanda outlined how the “efficiency adjustment” aims to correct this imbalance to advance the health of Medicare beneficiaries.

Following the conversation with Aramanda, Kavasery presented details from the innovative work that Blue Shield of California is involved in focused on payment reform (implementing a hybrid approach) and multipayer alignment.

Teeing up the rest of the day, PCC Board Chair Sean Hogan reinforced Greiner’s message on unity and called for radical action to improve our health care system. Members were invited to consider how the PCC can continue to strengthen primary care and inform federal decision-makers working to build a more effective, patient-centered health system.

Next came a conversation led by Elizabeth Lee and Margaret French (Venn Strategies) that examined the opportunities and challenges within the current political environment. This includes the passage of H.R. 1, CMS’s finalized 2026 MPFS Rule and the Trump Administration’s overall Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) framework. Following the conversation, participants broke into small groups to discuss how the PCC and its members can advance primary care payment reforms while responding to federal policies that risk undermining progress.

The PCC then invited members to provide feedback and guidance on major policy initiatives for 2026 and beyond as they relate to the three planks of PCC’s Better Health—NOW campaign.

To kick off the working sessions, Alin Severance (UPMC Health Plan), Brandon Wilson (Community Catalyst), and Sarah Coombs (National Partnership for Women and Families) provided a quick overview of recent, major policy changes related to the three planks and potential policies for the PCC to support in 2026.

In small-group discussions, participants shared what excited them most about the plank, including potential opportunities for action and emerging areas of momentum. Participants in each group then organized their ideas by common themes and voted for the two issues they felt were most critical for the PCC to address.

Medicare – To Scale Payment Changes

Participants in the Medicare group were very excited about certain provisions in this year’s Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule that offers opportunities to strengthen primary care. This included updates to valuation, APCM add-on codes and some hybrid options in permanent Medicare programs.

They were also excited about interest in this issue from Congress and the Administration. The key issues that the group identified for PCC to focus on in the next year were addressing cost-sharing concerns in APCM and working to further hybrid payment and capitated population-based payment options in permanent Medicare programs, not just in MSSP.

Medicaid and PC Safety Net

Participants agreed with PCC’s recommendation to expand to the broader primary care safety net, and to support state efforts to sustain primary care investment and access. Interest was strongest in educating federal policymakers on H.R. 1 impacts and increased advocacy and storytelling about CHCs and independent practices serving Medicaid patients. 

Whole-Person Care/Behavioral Health

Participants in the Behavioral Health group discussed PCC’s proposal to relabel the plank to focus on whole-person care. Participants expressed that whole-person care is fitting because it aligns with framing used by the current Administration, provides clarity in messaging and empowers individuals. They underscored that the term implies multidisciplinary efforts to impact the whole person.

The group identified some key issues for PCC to continue efforts toward: 

• Looking into existing workforce models to see what has been successful in integrating behavioral health 

• Aligning payers and health systems to implement APCM and BHI 

• Leveraging policymakers’ interest in tech, data and innovation as ways to fund team-based infrastructure 

The afternoon continued with an energizing conversation led by PCC Board Member Susan Edgman-Levitan (John D. Stoeckle Center). Joined by Dr. Asaf Bitton (Ariadne Labs), Dr. Kyu Rhee (NACHC) and Ann Greiner (PCC), the group explored approaches for unifying primary care champions — with the “Triple Double” collaboration offering one potential pathway. 

The “Triple Double” concept outlines key goals to ensure success within our country’s primary care system. By that by 2030, the US needs to: 

– Double primary care spending as a share of all spending in all insurance markets from roughly 5% to 10% 

– Double the number of people cared for at community health centers annually from roughly 10% to 20%) 

– Double the percentage of new physicians entering primary care primary care from roughly 20% to 40% 

A final reflection session led by PCC Board Member Darilyn Moyer (ACP) invited members to distill learnings from the day and consider how the PCC can channel this momentum into its 2026 policy and advocacy efforts. 

The Forum concluded with a reception for members and invited guests, including policymakers, media and thought leaders. The gathering provided an opportunity to deepen connections and celebrate the collective commitment to strengthening primary care nationwide.