Clinical Strategy Committee Hears About Federal Primary Care Delivery and Alternative Payment Initiatives

The February Clinical Strategy Committee (CSC) meeting featured presentations by 2 guests: Judith Steinberg, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health on the Current Status of Primary Care Plan for Health and Human Services (HHS); and Craig Jones, MD, Partner, Capitol Health Associates, with reflections from Learning Action Network (LAN) work on alternative payments for primary care, Advancing Health Equity Through APMs: Guidance for Equity-Centered Design and Implementation. The two panelists reinforced the importance that HHS is placing on primary care investment and alternative payments to support and strengthen primary care. The HHS plan was stimulated as a response to the challenges posed in the May 2021 report on “Implementing High-Quality Primary Care” which had been discussed extensively at the July 2021 CSC meeting. The HHS plan is in formation and is expected to be presented to the Secretary in June 2022. The need for multi-payer alignment, including between Medicare and Medicaid, was one of the areas highlighted. Here is a recording link and CME credit is available.