WASHINGTON The American College of Physicians (ACP) today praised the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for its announcement of primary care practices to participate in a historic public-private partnership to strengthen primary care, the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPCI).
In support of more effective, affordable, and higher quality health care, 500 primary care practices in seven regions have been selected to participate in a new partnership among payers from CMS, state Medicaid agencies, commercial health plans, self-insured businesses, and primary care providers. The partnership is designed to provide improved access to quality health care at lower costs.
"The Administration and the CMS deserve tremendous credit for advancing this vital initiative, which moves to another critical stage with today's announcement," said ACP president David L. Bronson, MD, FACP. "We are extraordinarily pleased with the CPCI's focus on patient-centered care and practice redesign."
Under the CPCI, CMS will pay primary care practices a care management fee, initially set at an average of $20 per beneficiary per month, to support enhanced, coordinated services on behalf of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries. Simultaneously, participating commercial, state, and other federal insurance plans are also offering enhanced payment to primary care practices that are designed to support them in providing high-quality primary care on behalf of their members.
"The CPCI is an important step in supporting patient-centered medical homes," said Robert A. Gluckman, MD, FACP, chairman of ACP's Medical Practice and Quality Committee and chief medical officer for a participating payer in Oregon. "This program allows Medicare and private insurers to provide the needed resources so practices can improve care for all their patients."
For patients, this means these physicians may offer longer and more flexible hours, use electronic h
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| Contact: David Kinsman dkinsman@acponline.org 202-261-4554 American College of Physicians Source:Eurekalert |