USofCare Applauds Introduction of the Patients First Act, a Critical Step Toward Strengthening Primary Care

This bipartisan legislation would help deliver an affordable, patient-first primary care experience through Medicare

Washington, DC — Today, Rep. John Joyce (R-PA), Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA), and Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) introduced the Patients First Act, a bipartisan Medicare payment reform bill that would support independent primary care practitioners and strengthen primary care access for people, in addition to addressing system-wide payment reform. In response, United States of Care (USofCare) released the following statement:

“Primary care is the foundation of a high-functioning, accessible health care system – and for too long, the way we pay for health care has failed to reflect that,” said Lisa Hunter, Senior Director of Federal Policy & Advocacy at United States of Care. “Our listening research and polling make clear that people want access to reliable primary care – in fact, over 8-in-10 respondents told us that they highly prioritize having a regular primary care physician. But too often, cost keeps people from getting the care they need. The Patients First Act is the product of serious, sustained bipartisan collaboration, and is a critical first step in prioritizing whole-person, patient-first primary care. By advancing a demonstration program that supports independent primary care practices, moving us away from a broken payment model, and allowing participating primary care providers to prioritize keeping people healthy, this bill puts people at the center of care in a way that is long overdue. Critically, this bill also eliminates cost-sharing for patients for certain primary care services in the demonstration program, removing a major affordability barrier for people covered by Medicare. We thank Representatives Joyce, Schrier, Murphy, and the bipartisan coalition of cosponsors for their leadership, and we look forward to continued collaboration on these efforts as the legislative process moves forward.”

“The proposed reforms in this bill are a major win for people seeking an affordable, reliable primary care experience. That being said, community health centers are often a key source of primary care for many people across the country, including people who often struggle to afford their care. We encourage the bill sponsors to provide consideration for these providers when making investments in whole-person primary care. That way, people seeking care at community health centers can also benefit from the durable, systemic shift towards affordable, high-quality care that the Patients First Act sets the stage for.”

###