Dr. Shawn Griffin, the first physician to serve as President & CEO for URAC, has proven expertise in a wide variety of health care topics and can be counted on for engaging and insightful commentary.
The Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) is delighted to honor Dr. Shawn Griffin, President & CEO of URAC, as our latest Primary Care Champion. In a recent interview with the PCC, Griffin explained his passion for primary care and provided insights into ways policymakers and industry leaders can continue to improve our nation’s health by strengthening primary care.
In the interview, Griffin began by noting his deep-rooted connection to rural medicine, growing up in a small town in Iowa where primary care was the foundation of health care. These small-town clinicians inspired him to pursue family medicine at the University of Iowa and train in a rural family medicine program, later practicing in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Though now an advocate for primary care policy in Washington, D.C., he hangs his stethoscope and white coat on the wall as a reminder that his mission remains the same—ensuring high-quality, whole-person primary care for all.
Griffin then talked about URAC’s work, which includes improving health care quality by expanding accreditation programs in telehealth, value-based care and AI while simultaneously making certification more accessible to small providers. URAC also engages with policymakers to ensure that innovations benefit both patients and providers.
When asked about primary care’s most pressing challenges, Griffin cited workforce shortages and declining reimbursements. He highlighted the need for more improved reimbursement policies and stronger advocacy to give the primary care community a bigger voice in policy decisions. Expanding telehealth can also help improve access, but sustainable funding and support are critical for maintaining healthy communities.
Griffin then urged policymakers to recognize the vital role primary care plays in controlling health costs and strengthening communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas. He underscored the need for fair reimbursement to sustain primary care practices and called for more direct engagement from constituents, claiming that lawmakers are far more influenced by community voices than by lobbyists. He also stressed the importance of informed policymaking, saying that rural health care challenges are often misunderstood by those outside the field.
Ultimately, Griffin asked policymakers to recognize the cost savings generated by comprehensive primary care and to prioritize investment in the field. He believes the most impactful change would be amplifying community voices to help policymakers understand the value of primary care. While specialized and tertiary care have their place, he stresses that America’s health care system cannot effectively serve communities without sustainable, high-quality primary care.