Insight Brief

The Primary Care First Act and the changing nature of healthcare reimbursement

If it’s been a while since you’ve seen your primary care provider – or, if you’ve been meaning to find one for years – you’re not alone. Seeking healthcare in the United States usually means finding a specialist, not a family doctor. But this structure contributes to wasted resources and unnecessary fragmentation of patient care.

In 2018, Congress took formal action to help rectify the problem with legislation known as the Primary Care First Act. By providing financial incentives for providers and practices who successfully steer patients to their offices instead of hospitals in certain situations, the goal is to improve outcomes and reduce unnecessary spending.

Unsurprisingly, these financial incentives mean a change to the primary care reimbursement structure, shifting from the current fee-for-service model toward more value-based care. For more information on the Act and its implications, fill in the following fields and we’ll deliver the insight brief straight to your inbox.



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