Evaluating the Nation's Largest Primary Care Delivery Initiative

Strengthening primary care is critical to promoting health and reducing costs in the United States. Comprehensive Primary Care Plus, or CPC+, is an advanced alternative payment model for primary care that builds on the foundation of the Comprehensive Primary Care initiative, implemented by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation from 2012 through 2016. The evaluation is assessing whether CPC+ achieves improved quality, reduced expenditures, and better health for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in thousands of primary care practices using a mixed methods study. We are analyzing claims data; survey and qualitative interviews with patients, primary care practitioners, practice staff, practices, and payers; and program data.

CPC+ is a public-private partnership that brings together CMS, and private and public payers to provide the financial support necessary for more than 3,000 practices in 18 regions to make fundamental changes in their care delivery, and shift orientation toward non-visit, team-based care. CMS is working with 79 payer partners with a shared commitment to align on payment, data sharing, and quality metrics.

Mathematica is examining whether the payment and care delivery model has the potential to lower Medicare and Medicaid expenditures while maintaining or improving the quality of beneficiaries’ care. CPC+ includes a robust learning system to facilitate advancements in quality measurement, performance feedback to practices, and the use of promising health information technology.

This study builds on our related work, including an evaluation of CPC and research on patient centered medical homes. More detailed findings can be found in the First Annual Report, the Supplemental Volume, the Appendices to the Supplemental Volume for the First Annual Report, and the Findings at a Glance.