When was the last time you went to the doctor?
Not necessarily for something big, not for a broken finger or the flu. Just a checkup. A regular annual visit to make sure everything is ok with your health.
For about a third of Americans, it’s probably been too long. In 2024, more than 100 million people did not have a regular primary doctor at all, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers.
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This data brief presents findings from the 2025 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians to examine care coordination in 10 countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We report on the types of clinicians coordinating care, the timeliness of care delivery, the information being exchanged between providers, and reported barriers to coordination. We also identify key lessons for how countries can improve care coordination.
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Sweden is aligning primary care access goals with physician workforce policy more explicitly. Rather than treating physician training as separate from care delivery, Sweden is using workforce policy as a tool to strengthen continuity, accessibility, and person-centered primary care. To support this goal, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare analyzed primary care workload and physician capacity, established a benchmark of one primary care physician per 1,100 residents, and issued recommendations to guide regional workforce planning toward that target.
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On July 31, the PCC and its Better Health NOW Campaign submitted formal comments on the Interim Final Rule implementing Medicaid Community Engagement requirements, calling on CMS to “withdraw and reissue the IFR in a manner that is more consistent with Medicaid’s statutory aim and requirements.”
Read our letter below.
A new qualitative study published in The Annals of Family Medicine spotlights how day-to-day practice differs between U.S. primary care physicians working for health systems and those in independent settings. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 30 physicians, the researchers identified five recurring themes that capture the practical trade-offs behind the growing shift toward employed models of care.
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Less than three-quarters of the nation’s young adults have a primary care provider, a trend that researchers from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center say could impair patient engagement and care coordination down the road.
According to a survey of just over 1,000 U.S. adults, only 71% of those aged 18-29 reported having a primary care provider. That’s compared to 97% of those over age 65 who said the same.
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Primary Care Physicians as the Gatekeepers of HaH Enrollment
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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.
The Power of Team-Based Primary Care: Sheri’s Story
The PCC, American College of Clinical Pharmacy
In this video from the PCC and ACCP, Sheri Conner and Rebecca Heath, PharmD, explore how a team-based approach to care has empowered Sheri as she provides care to her mother, who has dementia.
The video explores the relationship between Dr. Heath, Sheri, her mother and other clinicians, highlighting how the ongoing relationship between the care team, patient and caregiver has led to a better care experience.
Trusted Partnerships: How Primary Care Can Navigate Mistrust in Medicine
The PCC
On May 12, the PCC and the ABIM Foundation hosted a webinar exploring how strong, ongoing relationships between Americans and primary care can help overcome challenges created by growing mistrust in health care. Watch a recording of the webinar and read our summary.
Americans Are Fed Up with Our Broken Health System
Ann Greiner, the PCC
A new blog from President and CEO Ann Greiner explores how policymakers can tackle rising health care costs and why primary care investment should be at the forefront of this conversation.
Free primary care for all: Democratic think tank pushes the party on new health policy
Sahil Kapur and Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News
Democratic lawmakers are promoting a proposal that would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for primary care visits. Supporters of the policy argue that could improve preventive care utilization, reduce avoidable emergency department visits and strengthen long-term health outcomes.
Why is it so difficult to get a doctor’s appointment? Experts say this one reason is a big factor
PJ Randhawa and Leigh Lesniak, NBC 5 Chicago
An NBC 5 Responds survey found that more than 67% of Chicago respondents have trouble booking an appointment with their primary care doctor. Experts point to clinician shortages and increased demand as major reasons patients are struggling to secure appointments. As primary care systems face immense strain, this article outlines its contribution to longer wait times and growing patient frustration nationwide.
Doctors From Countries Under Travel Ban Now Allowed to Stay in U.S.
Miriam Jordan, New York Times
The Trump administration has reversed part of its visa application freeze, allowing foreign physicians (many in underserved areas) to remain in the country. Learn how this impacts health care as the United States faces a near-65,000 physician shortage.
Innovation Insight: CMS Invites ACOs to Apply to the New LEAD Model
CMS
CMS is inviting ACOs to apply to the new LEAD model, which aims to strengthen primary care through advanced value-based payment and care delivery approaches. The model focuses on improving care coordination and enhancing outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries. Due: May 17th.
Whitehouse, Marshall introduce legislation to fix delays in care for seniors
The Office of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) have introduced bipartisan legislation intended to reduce administrative delays that impact seniors’ access to care. The proposal could improve how quickly Medicare patients receive referrals, diagnostics and treatments coordinated through primary care practices.
Nebraska rolls out Medicaid work requirements, putting thousands at risk of losing coverage
Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News
The implementation of Medicaid work requirements in Nebraska could create new barriers to coverage for the state’s low-income residents. Primary care clinicians and community health centers are likely to see the downstream effects through increased uncompensated care and reduced continuity of treatment.
(Opinion) Early detection saves lives and brings down health care costs
James T. Brett & Andrea Hechavarria, NH Business Review
This opinion piece argues that preventive screenings and early intervention improve outcomes while lowering overall health care spending. Learn how primary care providers play a central role in identifying health concerns early and coordinating ongoing patient care.
Alzheimer’s is the sleeping financial crisis
Charles Sauer, TN Online
The article examines the growing financial and societal burden of Alzheimer’s disease as the population ages. It also highlights the importance of primary care in early detection, care coordination and supporting patients and caregivers through long-term management.
The current state of the physician workforce: 9 notes
Mariah Taylor, Becker’s Clinical Leadership
This piece outlines several key trends affecting the physician workforce. This includes shortages, burnout and shifting employment models. These pressures continue to affect primary care recruitment and retention across urban and rural communities alike.
Where Have the Primary Care Doctors Gone?
Megan Fahrney, Chicago Health
This article explores the causes and consequences of the growing primary care physician shortage in the United States. Limited workforce pipelines and increasing patient demand are making it harder for communities to maintain accessible frontline care.
Beyond the Roadmap: Creating Real Change in Health Care
Darshak Sanghavi, MD, NEJM Catalyst
This article examines health care innovation and delivery transformation strategies. Many of the approaches discussed emphasize strengthening coordinated, patient-centered primary care as a foundation for improving outcomes and lowering costs.
Primary Care Champion: Dr. Wayne Altman
The PCC
The PCC is delighted to honor Dr. Wayne Altman as our latest Primary Care Champion. Dr. Altman founded the MA Primary Care Alliance for Patients (MAPCAP) and serves as Professor & Chair of Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Primary care crisis requires new training and skills
Justin Oldfield, MD, KevinMD.com
In this article, Dr. Oldfield argues that addressing the primary care crisis will require new training models and expanded skill development for clinicians. The piece emphasizes preparing physicians to manage increasingly complex patient needs while navigating evolving health care systems.
How Chicago’s healthcare workforce needs are shaping a new kind of medical school
The Chicago School, Chicago Business Journal
Health care leaders in Chicago are calling for expanded medical education capacity to address workforce shortages. Increasing training opportunities may help strengthen the pipeline of future primary care physicians and improve access to care across the region.
Repairing a scattered, inequitable Kansas health care system requires imagination, ambition
Walter Taminang, Kansas Reflector
This article explores the systemic inequities in Kansas’ health care infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved communities. It highlights the importance of strengthening primary care networks and investing in long-term workforce and access solutions to improve population health outcomes.
Where $156 million for rural health care in Rhode Island will be spent
Jonny Williams, The Providence Journal
Rhode Island officials announced major investments aimed at improving rural health care access and infrastructure. Expanded funding for local services and provider recruitment could help stabilize primary care delivery in communities facing shortages and growing health care needs.
Vermonters share their experiences with primary health care
Roy Santa Croce, MyChamplainValley
Vermont residents describe difficulties accessing timely primary care services, including long waits and clinician shortages. Their experiences underscore broader concerns about maintaining continuity of care and ensuring patients can establish lasting relationships with primary care clinicians.
Why getting paid keeps getting harder
Austin Littrell, Medical Economics
A podcast with Arrow Founder and CEO Roshan Patel includes a conversation on the growing reimbursement challenges facing physician practices, including delays, denials and administrative complexity. These financial pressures disproportionately affect independent and small primary care practices already operating on thin margins.
The skills rotation: What AI means for the healthcare workforce
Ben Scharfe, Becker’s Health IT
This article examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping health care workforce roles and responsibilities. In primary care settings, AI tools may help reduce administrative burden, improve documentation efficiency and allow physicians to spend more time on direct patient care.
Every other week, the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) gathers major new stories, opinion pieces, research articles, case studies and more covering primary care. This special issue, however, covers both the weeks of 4/17/26 and 5/1/26.
Want to submit a piece? Feel free to email the piece to PCC Communications Associate Maximilian Sandefer at msandefer@thepcc.org.
New Video Resource: The Power of Team-Based Primary Care: Sheri’s Story
The PCC, American College of Clinical Pharmacy
In this video from the PCC and ACCP, Sheri Conner and Rebecca Heath, PharmD, explore how a team-based approach to care has empowered Sheri as she provides care to her mother, who has dementia.
The video explores the relationship between Dr. Heath, Sheri, her mother and other clinicians, highlighting how the ongoing relationship between the care team, patient and caregiver has led to a better care experience.
New Resource: Advanced Primary Care Management: Successful Adopters Tell Their Stories
The PCC
On April 28, the PCC hosted a discussion with early adopters of the Medicare Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM) services and an AARP policy expert about their experience leveraging this new program. The webinar first, however, featured a surprise guest as Dr. Jake Quinton (Center for Medicare) joined in for a brief one-on-one conversation with Ann Greiner (PCC).
Americans Are Fed Up with Our Broken Health System
Ann Greiner, the PCC
A new blog from President and CEO Ann Greiner explores how policymakers can tackle rising health care costs and why primary care investment should be at the forefront of this conversation.
Virginia Senator Introduces Bill to Boost Primary Care Workforce
Jessica Maldonado, WFXR
A new bill from U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, the Primary Care Team Education Care Act, aims to expand the primary care workforce through incentives and training support, reflecting growing urgency to address primary care shortages nationwide.
Innovation Insight: CMS Invites ACOs to Apply to the New LEAD Model
CMS
CMS is inviting ACOs to apply to the new LEAD model, which aims to strengthen primary care through advanced value-based payment and care delivery approaches. The model focuses on improving care coordination and enhancing outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries.
Addressing the Impact of H.R. 1’s Medicaid Changes on Primary Care
The PCC
On March 31, the PCC hosted a conversation exploring how primary care and states can work together to minimize challenges arising from major Medicaid policy changes put in place H.R. 1.
Idaho Cut Services for People With Schizophrenia. Then the Deaths Began
Ellen Barry, New York Times
Idaho cut Medicaid-funded mental health services, specifically intensive, community-based care for people with severe illness. Within months, several patients died after losing support. The backlash forced the state to quickly restore funding, underscoring how cutting preventive mental health care can lead to immediate and serious consequences.
Insurer ‘downcoding’ penalizes physicians for doing their jobs (opinion)
Ari Geller, Hartford Business Journal
Clinicians say insurers are using AI to “downcode” visits, cutting critical payments for more complex primary care services. Geller warns this could hurt independent practices and make it harder for patients, especially those with greater needs, to get comprehensive care.
Pennsylvania health system sues Aetna over alleged ‘downcoding’ of inpatient hospital care
HealthExec, Chad Van Alstin
Jefferson Health has filed a lawsuit against Aetna, alleging that the insurer’s policy of paying outpatient rates for inpatient hospital care, a practice also known as downcoding, violates federal law.
Mind the Gap: Bridging the Oral Health Divide for More Affordable and Accessible Coverage
Bailey Reavis, Families USA
As approximately 72 million Americans lack dental insurance, an informative article from PCC Member Families USA implores policymakers to “not make short-sighted cuts to dental benefits” as many states grapple with Medicaid budget cuts.
Why psychologists should be integrated into care teams
Nahal Delpassand, SmartBrief
Embedding psychologists directly into care teams, especially in primary care, can help address the mental and behavioral factors that strongly influence patients’ health outcomes. This underscores the importance of treating psychological needs as core, not optional, in order to forward whole-person care.
LEAD Gets the Diagnosis Right. Now CMS Has to Apply the Treatment to MSSP
Farzad Mostashari, LinkedIn
The Aledade Founder and CEO argues in a new article that while health care leaders increasingly agree that fee-for-service misaligns incentives and holds back primary care, the real challenge is treatment. Learn his perspective on why CMS must actively scale and push value-based care into the mainstream, not just pilot it.
Why Gen Z Is Choosing Urgent Care Over Primary Care
Cathy Cassata, Healthgrades
Gen Z patients are increasingly bypassing traditional primary care in favor of urgent care centers, as they cite convenience, speed, and digital accessibility. This trend raises concerns about continuity of care and long-term health management.
Residency Fill Rates Worsen for Primary Care: 20 Stats to Know
Paige Twenter, Becker’s Clinical Leadership
New data shows declining residency fill rates in primary care specialties. This signals a worsening pipeline issue that could further strain access to this critical care nationwide.
The Primary Care Crisis by the Numbers
Austin Littrell, Medical Economics
In a special episode of the Off the Chart podcast, experts outline the scale of the primary care crisis using workforce, access and financial data from the Milbank Memorial Fund, the Physicians Foundation and the Robert Graham Center jointly released report, “Investing in Primary Care: The Missing Strategy in America’s Fight Against Chronic Disease.”
Value Partnerships Deliver Cost Savings in Michigan
Brooke Bilyj, Crains Content Studio, Crain’s Detroit Business
Data from PCC member Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan and more showcase how value-based care partnerships in Michigan have demonstrated both cost savings and improved health outcomes. This information reinforces the role of primary care in driving more efficient health care systems.
Primary Care Champion: Dr. Wayne Altman
The PCC
The PCC is delighted to honor Dr. Wayne Altman as our latest Primary Care Champion. Dr. Altman founded the MA Primary Care Alliance for Patients (MAPCAP) and serves as Professor & Chair of Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Why US healthcare is so expensive and what primary care can do
Carolyn Krause, The Oak Ridger
Comprehensive primary care is key to better health, yet too many Americans still face barriers to access. A retired Tennessee doctor argues that reforms that prioritize affordability, coverage and investment in primary care can lead to better outcomes and lower costs.
The State of Primary Care – How Well Your State is Delivering Primary Care
Chiyedza Mvundura & Tod Didier, PCC
First developed in Spring 2024, the PCC’s “The State of Primary Care” provides package of fact sheets that examine the state of primary care in all 50 states and DC. Find your state and get the facts in our new Spring 2026 update!
Albany must pass the Primary Care Investment Act
Dr. Eric Gayle and Aparna Mekala, New York Daily News
New York has an opportunity to strengthen primary care by passing the Primary Care Investment Act. Learn in a great opinion piece how this bill would boost access, improve affordability and support better health outcomes across the state.
If Vermont is going to scale up primary care, health advocates say this one funding priority is crucial
Olivia Gieger, VTDigger
Advocates in Vermont say scaling up primary care starts with sustained investment. With workforce shortages and access challenges growing, stronger funding for primary care is key to improving outcomes and building a better system.
As Delaware debates primary care reform, a similar Oregon law offers insight
Nick Stonesifer, Spotlight Delaware
As Delaware debates primary care reform, Oregon offers a real-world example of what increased investment can achieve. Improved access, greater affordability, and better health outcomes—but implementation matters.
Lawmakers push health authority to cut provider red tape
Nick Budnick, Lund Report
Oregon lawmakers are pushing to cut red tape for providers. This aims to reduce administrative burden for clinicians (including those in primary care) and free up more time for patient care.
Rural hospitals face federal funding cuts, look to NC lawmakers for support
Ashley Fredde, NC Health News
North Carolina lawmakers are confronting a growing rural health workforce crisis, where shortages of primary care clinicians are limiting access to care across underserved communities. Policymakers are now weighing funding and workforce solutions to prevent further erosion of this frontline care.
RI leaders concerned with primary care fees amid doctor shortage
Sarah Bawden & Kim Kalunian, WPRI 12
Rhode Island leaders are sounding the alarm that low primary care payment rates and a growing clinician shortage are straining the system and limiting patient access to care. Unless fees better support primary care clinicians, the state could struggle to meet the rising demand for frontline services.
Newton Endorses Bills to Address Massachusetts Primary Care Shortage
Leon Gopaul, The Heights
Local leaders in Massachusetts are backing state legislation aimed at strengthening the primary care workforce and improving access amid a growing shortage crisis. This comes as PCC Champion Dr. Wayne Altman presented his new proposal to fix Massachusetts’ “inadequate” primary care system in Newton’s Programs and Services Committee meeting.
Health Insurers Pare Back Some Prior-Approval Requirements
John Tozzi, Bloomberg
American health insurers have started to reduce some prior authorization requirements, cutting about 11% of approvals to ease administrative burdens and speed up care. However, the changes are still voluntary and limited, meaning prior authorization still plays a major role in controlling costs and access to treatment.
America Is Running Out of Primary Care Doctors. AI Is Filling the Gap
Chase Feiger, Inc.
As primary care shortages worsen nationwide, AI tools have emerged to support clinical workflows and patient management. However, questions still remain about scalability and care quality.
AI Is Speeding Prior Authorizations While Driving Higher Costs for Health Systems
Cailey Gleeson, Fierce Healthcare
AI has helped streamline the often lengthy prior authorization process, however many health systems report that the technology may also contribute to rising costs. Learn how this complicates its value in care delivery.
Cummins’ Dr. Bob Chestnut to Speak at Premise Health’s 2026 Client Forum
Premise Health, LinkedIn
Dr. Bob Chestnut has implemented lifestyle medicine into Cummins’ global health strategy, improving care for the company’s over 75,000 employees. At Premise Health’s 2026 Client Forum he’ll share how employers can replicate this approach to drive better workforce health outcomes.
On May 12, the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) and the ABIM Foundation hosted a webinar exploring how strong, ongoing relationships between Americans and primary care can help overcome challenges created by growing mistrust in health care.
Moderated by Katherine Gergen Barnett (Boston Medical Center Department of Family Medicine, PCC), the discussion featured Lisa Fitzpatrick (Grapevine Health), Barbra Rabson (Massachusetts Health Quality Partners) and Asher Tulsky (Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine).
Gergen Barnett kicked off the conversation by highlighting the importance of trust, labeling it a both visible and invisible infrastructure of medicine as clinicians try to reach patients. She highlighted how historic low trust in medicine and health care institutions—paired with misinformation spreading at unprecedented speed—has contributed to worsening health outcomes and a deemphasis on preventative care.
Panelists built off Gergen Barnett’s premise, exploring how different challenges that erode trust contribute to lower outcomes. Fitzpatrick emphasized that trauma—including more subtle trauma, such as living through scarcity or poverty—can shape people’s health care decisions and make them reticent to seek or trust care. Tulsky concurred and added that the challenge is compounded by limited time with patients, which undermines clinicians’ ability to communicate up-to-date evidence and approaches to care. Rabson said that the data (via the Wake Forest scale) found this mistrust to be especially pronounced in Black, Latino and Asian patients.
Fitzpatrick then went a bit more in-depth on her experience at the patient engagement organization Grapevine Health, which came from her Dr. Lisa on the Street video series. Talking with everyday patients (and non-patients) on the street, Fitzpatrick found that many people felt bogged down by medical and research lingo when trying to have honest conversations with their clinicians as they seek a trusted, relatable messenger—tying back to Tulsky’s assertion about the challenges of communicating evidence effectively. She emphasized building personal, real connections with people by using simpler, clearer language that levels the playing field and making a concerted effort to understand and empathize with patients.
Tulsky added that once you lose a patient’s trust, it is incredibly difficult to gain it back (often without the second chance to do so).
Rabson relayed how many patients say that clinicians consistently make assumptions about them that are oftentimes completely untrue instead of just asking questions. Instead of their health being a conversation with shared decision-making, they feel like they are being talked down to.
Looking towards further solutions, Tulsky highlighted that clinicians being taught to be more conversational and even a bit negotiatory pays dividends. Clinicians may not be able to get to every problem a patient is facing, but by asking “what’s on your mind today? What are your concerns?” allows a patient to be heard and have their pressing issues dealt with rather than just going through a laundry list of simply diabetes or blood pressure checks. A clinician can get to these diagnostics at the next appointment, but if a patient disliked their experience and didn’t feel seen, then they might not come back at all.
Gargen Barnett hammered in again the importance of effective interpersonal communication. As a clinician, you learn a new language when it comes to medical jargon, and part of your job is to translate it into a way the patient can better understand.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)’s role in clinician trust was also brought up later in the conversation. Rabson claimed that she saw an article that really stuck with her, arguing that AI implementation should be moving at the speed of trust instead of the speed of profit. AI is a gamechanger when it comes to reducing administrative burden and supporting patients, but she contends that there still needs deep transparency in its usage.
Fitzpatrick agreed that AI can be a great assistance tool, yet many patients are unaware of what the scope of AI is. Many attach AI to their umbrella fear of deepfakes and generative images and not its important uses for clinicians especially pre and post-visit. Educating patients on the scope and even how they can leverage these tools could prove critical, while making sure that the human touch of care is not lost. Tulsky agreed, saying that there’s an opportunity to utilize AI as a collaborative tool to effectively get answers.
Ultimately, panelists agreed that patients lacking trust in clinicians isn’t a new phenomenon. However, as misinformation and a primary care shortage continues to accumulate, cultivating robust patient-clinician relationships built on strong communication and understanding is an important way to improve trust.