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.
The Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) is delighted to recognize Dr. Bob Phillips as our latest Primary Care Champion. Dr. Phillips is the Founding Executive Director of the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM)’s Center for Professionalism and Value in Health Care.
Phillips sat down recently with PCC President and CEO Ann Greiner to discuss what ignites his passion for primary care advocacy and what he hopes can be done to improve access to comprehensive, whole-person primary care in the United States.
To begin the interview, Phillips discussed what ignited his passion. Thinking he would be a physician researcher early in his professional career, Phillips completed a rural family medicine rotation during his third year of medical school and fell in love with the practice. Through this work, he discovered the power of cultivating strong relationships with patients in improving patients’ health. He was then able to marry this passion with his desire for greater research and policy advocacy in 2000 through his role as Assistant Director at the AAFP Robert Graham Center.
Phillips then explored his experience with comprehensive, whole-person primary care. He explained how, a decade ago at his own practice, his practice had a PharmD and psychologists in the office that allowed for more seamless, coordinated care, which gave him firsthand experience with the power of high-value, team-based care.
Later, he touched upon how his work evaluating Medicare Advantage plans reinforced his perspective on coordinated care, noting how one plan in Texas that dedicated itself to wraparound services had become a particularly strong archetype of effective care. Under the program, the panel of 650 patients was able to have hour-long visits with primary care clinicians and access to a wide range of medical professionals and services. This led to 60% lower bed days and a 50% lower age-adjusted mortality rate than a peer comparison group of Medicare beneficiaries.
Phillips also addressed how red tape and unnecessary paperwork hamper many primary care clinicians’ ability to deliver the best-quality care. He noted how the burden of prior authorization and other administrative challenges often fall to primary care clinicians.
Phillips then closed the conversation by offering advice to emerging primary care advocates, urging them to seek out policy leaders, even in the context of learning and personal growth.
Darilyn V. Moyer, MD, MACP, an internal medicine physician and physician executive, received the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Medical Executive Meritorious Achievement Award. The award recognizes executives whose leadership has had a lasting impact advancing patient care, physician practice, and medical education.
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The Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) and PCC’s Better Health – NOW campaign (BHN) are pleased to support H.R. 8765, the Prioritizing Primary Care Act of 2026. This legislation is a critical step in understanding how the federal government can invest more in the foundation of every high performing health system – primary care.
Read our full letter of support below.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the leading not-for-profit organization overseeing the certification of physicians and medical specialists in the United States, has announced the recipients of its 2026 service awards.
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Her service with the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation, American Board of Internal Medicine Council, the Primary Care Collaborative, and other national initiatives reflects her longstanding focus on incorporating the patient voice into healthcare decision making.
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Washington, D.C. (June 1, 2026) – Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) President and CEO Ann Greiner has issued the following statement in response to the June 1, 2026, interim final rule affecting the Medicaid program:
“The PCC is disappointed by today’s interim final rule, which would further imperil access to high-quality primary care. These top-down changes will force states to implement new requirements that will hamper access to preventive services and primary care.
“At a time when families already struggle to gain access to needed primary care and preventive services, finalizing this regulation will undermine stability of practices across the nation. We urge policymakers to press pause on these concerning policies.”
Today’s announcement closely followed a proposed Special Directed Payment rule that would eliminate $510 billion from state Medicaid budgets—far outpacing the $149 billion score estimated by the CBO when H.R. 1 was passed – and further weakening the nation’s health care safety net.
On June 23, the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) hosted a discussion on how reducing or eliminating cost-sharing for primary care can help improve the nation’s health and enhance affordability of the health system – specifically by reducing patients’ financial barriers to care and removing red tape burdening practices. This conversation also delved deep into how unnecessary cost-sharing creates friction for patients and adds unnecessary paperwork for clinicians, as well as ideas for how to address this issue with policymakers.
Moderated by Dr. Raymond Tsai (Purchaser Business Group on Health), the discussion featured Dr. Linda Delo (American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians), Dr. Janay Johnson (American Heart Association) and Sophia Tripoli (Families USA).
Dr. Tsai began by highlighting the importance of the conversation. With clinician burden at an all-time high, cost-sharing in primary care has only exacerbated this problem. As primary care clinicians get buried in paperwork, they lose out on time that could be spent having meaningful, important conversations with a patient and can even leave the field altogether due to their frustration. As clinicians work to implement innovative new programs (like Medicare’s advanced primary care management codes) that navigate our system away from fee-for-service payment, policymakers and decisionmakers need to understand how cost sharing in primary care can undermine this important work.
Dr. Johnson then highlighted an important statistic: cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, as it has for over a century. Much of this is preventable, with primary care being able to effectively identify and manage risk factors before they progress into something more serious. However, many clinicians lose out on the opportunity to foster critical relationships with patients due to cost sharing. Even something as simple as a $5 out-of-pocket cost can discourage people.
Dr. Delo argued that cost-sharing creates a two-tiered system of care. Patients with generous health coverage or supplement plans don’t incur this cost-sharing are able to keep important appointments while others are less likely to make appointments. Tripoli hammered in this point, offering a cogent reminder that health care affordability remains the number one issue for people across the country right now.
Tripoli also tied this issue to others facing primary care clinicians and patients. Providing multi-faceted, expansive care, the work of primary care clinicians and their teams is still undervalued in our current health care system. As we invest and spend more on specialty and hospital care, primary care clinicians – best equipped to manage chronic diseases and provide comprehensive care – are facing a resource squeeze.
We’re likely looking toward a future with greater chronic disease, argues Dr. Johnson. Increases by the millions in hypertension, diabetes, obesity and other heart disease risk factors could leave the United States with a sicker population and an economic cost that could balloon to $1.5 trillion annually by 2050. Investments in preventative care are critical towards reversing these trends. Dr. Delo agreed, adding that reaching out to legislators on the importance of strengthening relationships between primary clinicians and patients in improving the health of our nation.
However, Tripoli also highlighted some recent positives in the primary care space, including last year’s MPFS rule that made key improvements on primary care payment. She has also witnessed some critical conversations happening on Capitol Hill concerning how primary care can be paid differently.
The conversation then shifted to overutilization – with too many patients going to urgent care or the emergency room for issues that should instead be seen by a primary care clinician, according to Dr. Delo. Tripoli agreed, adding how this can be directly tied to access issues. For many, walking into an urgent care clinic or emergency room is a much quicker task than seeing a primary care clinician in a timely manner. She argued we need to fix our system to allow more timely care.
Ultimately, panelists agreed that there needs to be a greater investment in primary care and making comprehensive primary care more accessible to patients. Dr. Tsai also highlighted a bill pending in Congress, the Chronic Care Management Improvement Act of 2026. This piece of legislation eliminates cost-sharing for chronic care management in Medicare – an important down payment on the relief from burdensome cost-sharing that primary care clinicians and patients need. Tsai urged the audience to lend their voices to support access to comprehensive, whole-person primary care.
On Wednesday, May 20, the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled, “Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms.” It marked the fourth hearing in the Committee’s health care affordability series—and primary care took center stage at the hearing.
Witnesses included:
Representatives and witnesses emphasized the critical role primary care plays in improving the health of Americans. Yet despite its importance, primary care remains chronically underinvested in and continues to face a growing workforce shortage. Lawmakers repeatedly sought solutions to better incentivize and support medical students and practicing primary care clinicians in entering and remaining in the field.
A recurring theme throughout the hearing was the idea of primary care serving as the “quarterback” of the American health care system. Speakers highlighted primary care as a critical entry point, providing chronic disease prevention, care coordination and lifestyle medicine through trusted, long-term patient-clinician relationships. Witnesses and members alike noted that stronger investment in primary care is associated with improved health outcomes and lower overall health care costs.
Five major themes emerged from the hearing:
Primary Care as the Backbone of a Healthy America
Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO-01) emerged as a champion for primary care during the hearing. In her opening statement, she described primary care as “the backbone of a healthy population.” Drawing from her personal experience as the mother of a primary care physician, Rep. DeGette emphasized the need to strengthen primary care through increased investment and improved reimbursement for primary care services.
Other members, including Representatives Kelly (D-IL-02) and Carter (D-LA-02), also highlighted the integral role primary care plays in supporting seniors living with one or multiple chronic conditions.
Greater Investment in Primary Care & Hybrid Payment Models
Representatives from across the health care field emphasized that Medicare Physician Fee Schedule reimbursement rates have failed to keep up with inflation. When asked how best to support primary care clinicians in serving complex patient populations, Drs. Fox and Furr stressed the importance of both greater investment in primary care and expanded access to hybrid payment models.
They argued that upfront per-member-per-month payments (PMPM), coupled with fee-for-service reimbursement, gives clinicians greater flexibility to manage patient needs, build care teams, invest in technology and deliver more comprehensive whole-person care.
Representatives John Joyce (R-PA-13 ) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) also emphasized the need to strengthen the primary care workforce by incentivizing medical students to enter the specialty and by modernizing the Medicare reimbursement system to better support independent primary care practices.
Supporting Rural Communities
Supporting America’s rural health communities stood out as a bipartisan priority throughout the hearing. Representative Carter (D-LA-02) emphasized the challenges facing rural populations during his opening remarks, stating:
“Rural patients are sicker and older, have a higher risk of chronic disease, and are more likely to rely on Medicare and Medicaid. This is a patient population that needs more access, not less, yet they are more likely to face barriers to care because there simply are not enough doctors.”
Witnesses took the opportunity to stress the importance of training the next generation of clinicians in rural settings, noting that physicians are more likely to practice in the communities where they train. Several witnesses encouraged Congress to increase reimbursement for Graduate Medical Education (GME) training opportunities and expand hybrid payment models that would allow clinicians to build care teams, reduce administrative burden and better support rural patient populations.
Reducing Administrative Burden for Clinicians
Reducing administrative burden surfaced as a key priority, with several members focusing their questioning on how streamlining reporting requirements could give clinicians more time for direct patient care and help sustain independent practices. Representative Guthrie (R-KY-02) specifically raised concerns about the burden associated with programs such as MIPS and the disproportionate impact reporting requirements have on rural and small independent practices.
Both lawmakers and witnesses called for greater standardization and simplification of reporting requirements to reduce administrative burden and allow clinicians to spend more time caring for patients.
Consolidation of Independent Practices
Lawmakers sought to better understand both the root causes of vertical integration and its downstream effects on patients and clinicians. Committee members raised concerns about the number of independent practices being bought up by larger health systems and the unintended consequences consolidation can have on patient access and choice.
Witnesses and lawmakers testified that financial instability, growing administrative burden, clinician burnout and persistent staffing shortages, has contributed to the decline of independent practices. Witnesses also pointed to existing federal incentives that make it easier for hospitals and health systems to acquire smaller practices.
Dr. Furr explained that operating an independent practice is like running a small business, noting that without stable reimbursement, many practices struggle to remain financially viable while continuing to support the needs of their patient populations.
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.
New Resource: 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.
The downward spiral of independent primary care: Why the math no longer works
Robert Resnik, Medical Economics
The piece explores the financial pressures driving independent primary care practices toward consolidation or closure. Rising operational costs, reimbursement challenges and administrative complexity are making it increasingly difficult for smaller practices to remain sustainable.
Will Primary Care Physicians Soon Be Prescribing Blind?
Carol M. Mangione and Michael Barry, MedPage Today
In the wake of HHS firing the two remaining chairs of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, this commentary discusses the importance of preserving the integrity and independence of the organization which plays a major role in shaping evidence-based preventive care recommendations. The authors argue that weakening trust in preventive screening guidance could undermine primary care’s ability to deliver consistent, patient-centered preventive services and improve long-term population health outcomes.
UCSF doctor has bold plan to achieve better healthcare access
Catherine Ho, Yahoo! News (originally: San Francisco Chronicle)
The article profiles a UCSF physician, Dr. Kevin Grumbach, proposing new approaches to improve health care accessibility and affordability. Many of the ideas center on strengthening primary care delivery and reducing barriers that prevent patients from receiving timely preventive services.
MGMA urges Congress to overhaul Medicare physician payment, scrap MIPS tournament scoring
Austin Littrell, Physicians Practice
The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) urges Congress to reform Medicare physician payment systems and eliminate aspects of the current MIPS scoring model. The PCC also argued in a statement for the record that the existing structure creates unnecessary administrative burden and financial instability for practices, including those in primary care.
OPINION: Integrating mental health into primary care saves lives, money
Marcus Wallace, Tom Wroth, Christoph Diasio
This opinion piece advocates for integrating behavioral health services into primary care settings to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. Coordinated care models can help patients receive critical early mental health support while also reducing treatment fragmentation.
Pediatric mental health diagnoses rise in primary care visits, claims study finds
Sydney Jennings, Patient Care
A new claims study found rising rates of pediatric mental health diagnoses occurring during primary care visits. The findings highlight the increasingly important role that primary care clinicians play in identifying, managing and coordinating behavioral health services for youth.
Why US life expectancy continues to trail peer nations
Julia Bonavitacola, AJMC
The article examines factors contributing to lower U.S. life expectancy compared to other developed countries, including chronic disease burden and a lack of care access. Strengthening primary care and preventive health services is presented as a key strategy for improving long-term population health outcomes.
Primary care physician shortage strategies
Gigen Mammoser, Healthgrades for Professionals
The article outlines strategies that health systems and policymakers can use to address the growing shortage of primary care physicians across the United States. Recommendations include expanding workforce pipelines, improving retention efforts and leveraging team-based care models to improve access.
States with the highest, lowest PCP shortages in 2028
Mariah Taylor, Becker’s Clinical Leadership
This report compares projected primary care physician shortages across states through 2028. The data underscores regional disparities in access and highlights the urgent need for workforce planning and investment in underserved areas.
Wyoming’s healthcare struggles explained to lawmakers
Noah Zahn, Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange
As Wyoming lawmakers held over two days of testimony, health care leaders outlined workforce shortages, access gaps and infrastructure challenges facing the state’s health care system. Rural communities continue to face significant barriers to accessing consistent primary care services, particularly in frontier regions.
Oregon committee to focus on bolstering primary care
David Raths, Healthcare Innovation
Oregon policymakers are forming a committee focused on strengthening the state’s primary care system through investment and reform initiatives. The effort reflects growing recognition that primary care is essential to improving health outcomes and lowering health care costs.
Mass. health centers push for legislation to strengthen primary care and funding
Avery Bleichfeld, The Bay State Banner
Massachusetts community health centers are advocating for various pieces of legislation, including ones aimed at increasing funding and strengthening primary care infrastructure. Supporters say greater investment is necessary to sustain services for underserved populations and address workforce shortages.
OPINION: NY kids need better access to primary care
Jeff Kaczorowski, Special to the USA TODAY Network
The article highlights barriers children in New York face when trying to access timely primary care services. Expanding pediatric primary care access through The Primary Care Investment Act (Senate Bill S1634A) could improve preventive care utilization and long-term health outcomes for New York families.
OPINION: NJ’s physician burnout crisis is pushing doctors to leave
Moishe B. Singer and Soumitra S. Bhuyan, NJ.com
In this op-ed, Moishe B. Singer and Soumitra S. Bhuyan argue that physician burnout is worsening workforce shortages across New Jersey. The authors attribute administrative burden, untenable staffing shortages and increasing patient demand as contributing factors to the mounting stress that is impacting frontline primary care clinicians.
The administrative burden on primary care is staggering. Technology can help—if we get it right
Sean Hogan, for the PCC
This column from PCC Board Chair Sean Hogan examines the growing administrative demands placed on primary care physicians and the impact those burdens have on patient care and clinician burnout. It argues that thoughtfully implemented technology solutions could streamline workflows, reduce documentation strain and allow clinicians to focus more fully on patients.
AAFP launches Primary Care Innovation Network and advisory committee to guide AI in frontlines of care
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
AAFP announced a new initiative focused on guiding the responsible use of artificial intelligence in frontline care settings. The effort aims to ensure AI tools support primary care clinicians without increasing burden or disrupting patient relationships.
3 fixes for primary care access in the ChatGPT era
Payam Zamani, KevinMD.com
This piece explores how technology and changing patient expectations are reshaping primary care access. The author proposes solutions including digital tools, workflow redesign and new care delivery models to help practices meet growing demand.
This compilation was created with support from an AI tool.
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.