Smaller primary care practices perform better than other practices in providing ongoing care and care coordination, but are more challenged than larger practices in implementing quality improvement efforts, according to a survey conducted by the Center for Health Care S... more
Population-based payment (PBP) models — an advanced value-based payment approach — are gaining increased interest in health care as a way to achieve often hard-to-reach goals, such as controlling health care costs, improving care quality, enhancing patient and prov... more
Through the Affordable Care Act, in 2013 and 2014, Medicaid is required to reimburse primary care providers at parity with Medicare rates -- a "bump" that is funded 100 percent by the federal government. This increase in Medicaid provider rates offers a potentially powe... more
Over half of individuals in the U.S. covered by Medicaid come from communities of color. The program also insures over 10 million people with disabilities. As a result, state Medicaid agencies and their partners can play a major role in advancing health equity and impro... more
Increasingly, states are seeking more advanced primary care models that better addresses the diverse health-related needs of patients, including behavioral health and social needs. These profiles are part of a series that explore how five states — Hawaii, Louisiana, P... more
In today's challenging economy, Medicaid represents one of the biggest opportunities for reforming the quality and cost effectiveness of health care services, especially for populations with high costs and complex needs; the nation cannot afford not to. Building a Me... more
As Medicaid programs across the country become more aware of the major role non-medical drivers of health (DOH) play in health outcomes, they are increasingly searching for tools to help identify and address these needs. One such tool is a community resource and referr... more
An aging population, increasing rates of chronic illness, and a shortage of new primary care physicians are placing growing, and sometimes unmanageable, demands on primary care practices.1,2 As their need for support - particularly in the area of chronic disease managem... more
For many Americans, taking prescription medications is part of everyday life. Nearly 75 percent of the population takes at least one medication daily, and 29 percent take five or more. Despite these numbers, there is scant guidance available to help people navigate comp... more
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are an essential part of the nation’s health care safety net. Across the country, patients in FQHCs are benefiting from state-led value-based payment (VBP) models that move away from traditional fee-for-service payment that r... more
Primary care is associated with better health outcomes, lower costs, and plays an important role in reducing socioeconomic disparities in health. The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need for robust investment in primary care to support ongoing COVID-19 testing and car... more
On January 7, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a state health official letter, Opportunities in Medicaid and CHIP to Address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). The letter is the first comprehensive federal guidance on addressing s... more
