Primary Care Investment

Despite a robust body of evidence demonstrating that strong primary care is foundational to a high-performing health system associated with improved… More

The 2026 Primary Care Scorecard data show incremental, but fragile, gains in the primary care workforce and training pipeline. Financing for primary care continues to stagnate, with national spending levels largely unchanged and far below what is needed. There was considerable state variability for primary care spending and for primary care workforce density. More

Primary care improves outcomes, reduces costs, and decreases disparities, yet continues to be critically underfunded. The result? Fewer clinicians choosing primary care, particularly independent primary care, declining morale among those who do, and decreased patient access.   More

Health care should not just be about treating illness. It should be about preventing it, building long-term healing relationships, and improving overall health outcomes. So, when we talk about how to extend life expectancy and improve health at a sustainable cost, the answer is simple: double down on primary care. More

Decades of research confirms the safety, quality, and effectiveness of care provided by NPs, including care for complex patients, and their acceptance and approval by patients. Yet challenges remain in recruiting and retaining NPs in primary care. More

The Trump administration released a draft Medicare rule this summer that might have been missed amid HR1’s large funding cuts to Medicaid and the health insurance marketplaces. But the administration’s proposed changes to the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee schedule are an important step toward strengthening primary care — and following through on its commitment to “Make America Healthy Again.”  More

This report provides state leaders with a range of policy options states can use to strengthen primary care across geopolitically diverse contexts. More

The number of nurse practitioners (NPs) in the United States quadrupled from 91,000 in 2007 to 431,000 in 2024. But does this remarkable growth result in improved access to primary care where it is needed most? More

To inform state-level primary care payment policies, we reviewed recent policies advancing primary care payment reform in the commercial sector and conducted interviews with 50 stakeholders in five pioneering states: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Washington. More