We all know that primary care is critical to the health of Americans and the stability of the entire healthcare system. We also know that American primary care is chronically troubled: underfunded, understaffed, underpaid, unavailable, underappreciated, underrecognized, and poorly distributed. The situation is only getting worse — collapsing under its own weight.
In a rare display of bipartisanship, the US House of Representatives passed the Medicaid Primary Care Improvement Act (MPCIA) by voice vote of the 118th Congress. Although the Senate failed to act during the previous session, the bill’s reintroduction to the 119th Congress represents a potential shift toward a more sustainable and physician-centered healthcare model.