New effort co-chaired by HPC and EOHHS tasked with recommending a new primary care spending target, improving patient access, and strengthening workforce
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC), in conjunction with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), convened the first meeting of the new Primary Care Access, Delivery and Payment Task Force, established pursuant to Chapter 343 of the Acts of 2024, An Act enhancing the market review process.
The task force is charged with developing a series of recommendations to stabilize and strengthen the primary care system across Massachusetts, including establishing a primary care spending target for public and private payers and creating plans to support and develop the primary care workforce.
“We know that when health care spending is more responsive to community needs, we get more from our health care dollars, and premiums can be more affordable,” said Governor Maura Healey at the HPC’s 2024 Health Care Cost Trends Hearing. “Prioritizing investments in primary care will yield cost savings down the road and will help us rebuild the primary care workforce, and it is one of the most meaningful ways to improve the health of our residents. We need to make sure our dollars are lining up with our goals and values by making this investment in primary care.”
“This primary care task force represents an opportunity to resolve an existential challenge to our society and our health system,” said Massachusetts Undersecretary for Health and Task Force Co-Chair Dr. Kiame Mahaniah. “Without significant change from each of us on this task force, and the institutions we represent, we will not be able to propose realistic options for the resolution of our current crisis. I am excited by the work ahead and look forward to the transformative work of this task force.”
“The primary care foundation in Massachusetts is fracturing in real time, and unless action is taken quickly, a point of no return is imminent. Despite being one of the highest-value categories of health care, HPC research found that primary care represents a declining share of health care spending in Massachusetts. Now is the time for bold ideas and solutions,” said HPC Executive Director and Task Force Co-Chair David Seltz. “I am honored to co-chair the Primary Care Task Force with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and commit to seizing this opportunity to change the trajectory of primary care delivery so that it works for patients, put their health needs first, supports our essential workforce, and ultimately improves health outcomes for all.”
Membership List
- Task Force Co-Chair Kiame Mahaniah, MD, Undersecretary for Health, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)
- Task Force Co-Chair David Seltz, Executive Director, Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC)
- Senator Cindy Friedman, Chair, Joint Committee on Health Care Financing|
- Representative John Lawn, Chair, Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
- Michael Caljouw, Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance
- Lauren Peters, JD, Executive Director, Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA)
- Ryan Schwarz, MD, MBA, Chief, Office of Accountable Care and Behavioral Health, MassHealth
- Wayne Altman, MD, FAAFP, Founder, MAPCAP (Massachusetts Primary Care Alliance for Patients); Professor and Chair of Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine; Vice President, Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians; President, Family Practice Group (The Sagov Center for Family Medicine)
- Brenda Anders Pring, MD, FAAP, President, Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Pediatrician, Atrius Health and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Instructor, Harvard Medical School
- Laura Black, DNP, FNP-C, President, Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners; Nurse Practitioner, BrightStar Health and Wellness; Owner, Integrated Health Partners
- Jennifer Blewett, DSW, LICSW, DCSW, CGP, Clinician and Assistant Director for Community Outreach and Engagement, West End Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital; Member, Massachusetts State Board, National Association of Social Workers
- Alyson Bracken, PA-C, MPH, Senior Manager, Primary Care Center of Excellence, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Renee Crichlow, MD, FAAFP, Chief Medical Officer, Codman Square Health Center; Vice Chair of Health Equity, Department of Family Medicine, Boston University
- Suzanne Curry, Director of Policy Initiatives, Health Care For All
- Eric Dickson, MD, MHCM, FACEP, President and CEO, UMass Memorial Health; Former Board Chair, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association
- Mark Friedberg, MD, MPP, Senior Vice President, Performance Measurement & Improvement, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
- David Gilchrist, MD, MBA, FAAFP, Executive Chair, Primary Care, Atrius Health and Reliant Medical Group; Past President, Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians
- Jon Hurst, President, Retailers Association of Massachusetts
- Stephen Martin, MD, EdM, FAAFP, FASAM, Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, UMass Chan Medical School; Staff Physician, Barre Family Health Center; Medical Director, Greylock Recovery
- Judith Melin, MA, MD, FACP, Governor, Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Physicians; Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Lahey Health
- Sarah Mills, MPH, Vice President of Government Affairs, Associated Industries of Massachusetts
- Lora Pellegrini, JD, President and CEO, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans
- Barbra G. Rabson, MPH, President and CEO, Massachusetts Health Quality Partners
- Christina Severin, President and CEO, Community Care Cooperative
- Barbara Spivak, MD, Past President, Massachusetts Medical Society; Internist, Watertown
Task Force Legislative Mandates
- Develop recommendations to define primary care services, codes, and providers and to develop a standardized set of data and reporting requirements for private and public payers, providers, and provider organizations;
- Establish a primary care spending target for public and private payers to increase the financial investment in and patient access to primary care across the Commonwealth;
- Propose payment models to increase public and private reimbursement for primary care services;
- Assess the impact of health plan design on health equity and patient access to primary care services;
- Develop recommendations to monitor and track the needs of and service delivery to residents of the Commonwealth;
- Develop and issue recommendations to create short-term and long-term workforce development plans to increase the supply and distribution of and improve working conditions for the primary care workforce; and
- Make any additional recommendations or propose legislation to stabilize and strengthen the primary care system in the Commonwealth.
A recording of the meeting, presentation materials, and more information on the task force are available on the HPC’s website.
