Washington State commits to transforming primary health care

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 10/12/2020 03:17 PM PDT

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News release

For immediate release

Oct. 12, 2020

Washington State commits to transforming primary health care

Strong patient and primary care relationships lead to better health at lower costs

OLYMPIA – Today, insurance payers, representatives from the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), Governor Jay Inslee’s office, and the Washington State Medical Association celebrated the signing of a memorandum of understanding committing to improve primary care and develop a new payment model in Washington.

“Primary care is the foundation of our health care system and essential to better health outcomes, lower costs, and healthier families and communities,” said HCA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Judy Zerzan. “Evidence shows greater use of primary care is associated with lower costs, higher patient satisfaction, fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits, and lower mortality rates.”

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has further threatened primary care practices and the viability of our already fragile primary care system. Primary care transformation will help address the continued role of telehealth as a means of care when in-person visits are not possible.

HCA has worked with health plans and primary care providers over the past year to develop the payment model and proposed quality metrics. The goals of the model include:

Increase primary care expenditures while decreasing total health spending.
Align payment and incentives across payers as well as quality metrics across both payers and providers.
Promote and incentivize integrated, whole-person and team-based care. This includes primary care, physical and behavioral health care, and preventive services.
Improve provider capacity and access.
Work with interested public and private employers to spread and scale the model throughout the state.

Washington’s commitment to improving primary care is aligned with national focus on the issue. The Healthcare Payment Learning and Action Network is holding their annual meeting Tuesday, October 13. Dr. Zerzan will discuss primary care, health disparities, and the strategy to meeting the state’s value-based purchasing goals by 2022.

For more information

HCA’s multi-payer primary care transformation model webpage

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Media contact

Matt Ackerman, HCA Clinical Communications Manager

About the Health Care Authority (HCA)

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is committed to whole-person care, integrating physical health and behavioral health services for better results and healthier residents.

HCA purchases health care for more than 2.5 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program, and the COFA Islander Health Care Program. As the largest health care purchaser in the state, we lead the effort to transform health care, helping ensure Washington residents have access to better health and better care at a lower cost.

Please do not reply directly to this message. For more information, visit the HCA website, where you'll also find contact information.

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The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) complies with all applicable federal and Washington state civil rights laws and is committed to providing equal access to our services. Visit HCA’s website to view complete nondiscrimination statements.