CMMI Primary Care First: HFMA Overview

On April 22, 2019, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced its Primary Care First Model (PCF). The five-year model builds on CMMI’s and providers’ experiences with the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+). This alternative payment model seeks to prioritize the doctor-patient relationship, enhance care for patients with complex chronic needs and high need, seriously ill patients, reduce administrative burden, and focus financial rewards on improved health outcomes. The goals of the model are to reduce Medicare spending by preventing avoidable hospitalizations and improving access and the quality of care for all beneficiaries. Similar to CPC+ and the Oncology Care Model (OCM), CMMI is seeking other purchasers to participate in the model to support primary care practice transformation.