Central Louisiana News

Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have initiated a significant step towards addressing primary care challenges and reforming physician payment models. The senators released a Request for Information (RFI) in conjunction with the introduction of their bipartisan Pay PCPs Act. This legislation aims to enhance support and improve pay for high-quality primary care providers.

"Primary care is a critical part of the health care equation. Overwhelming evidence shows that primary care both improves health outcomes for patients and drives down health costs. There are many issues to address in primary care, and we look forward to receiving feedback on our legislation through the RFI to make a meaningful difference to health care success," said the senators.

Despite spending more on healthcare as a percentage of its GDP than peer countries, U.S. life expectancy falls below that of its counterparts, with an alarming trend towards decline. Furthermore, three out of ten people report not having a regular source of primary care. Reports suggest that over the next decade, the U.S. will face a shortage of between 17,000 and 45,000 primary care doctors.

The bipartisan legislation proposed by Senators Cassidy and Whitehouse aims to address this impending primary care shortage while simultaneously improving Medicare beneficiaries' health outcomes and assisting primary care providers in reducing health costs.

Susan Dentzer, President and CEO of America's Physician Groups stated: "We at America’s Physician Groups represent roughly 360 organizations committed to providing patient-centered, coordinated health care that is accountable for costs and quality. We can’t achieve this goal without a strong basis in advanced primary care."

She added: "We’re excited to see this new plan for a hybrid form of Medicare payment that will combine prospective, per-member-per-month payments with fee-for-service." Dentzer believes this approach will enable many smaller physician practices not only to survive but also build infrastructure necessary for thriving in value-based models.

The senators' RFI provides stakeholders with an opportunity to comment on the bipartisan bill, which serves as a marker for legislation in the primary care space. Feedback can be submitted to physician_payment@cassidy.senate.gov until July 15, 2024.