Prioritizing Primary Care Act

Summary#

This bill adds a new section to title XI of the Social Security Act that requires certain Federal agencies to report on primary care spending and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a working group on primary care. Agencies that run Federal health care programs or the Federal employees health program must, within 1 year of enactment and at least annually after that, send Congress a report. Each report must cover the 1-year period ending 90 days before the report and must show (1) the total dollar amount of Federal funds expended or obligated that are attributable to primary care spending (as defined by the HHS Secretary) and (2) the percentage of total Federal funds for health benefits that this primary care spending represents.

The HHS Secretary must set up a Working Group within 1 year of enactment. The Working Group will study and make recommendations on how Federal health programs may prioritize primary care spending, how to increase access to primary care providers, and how to improve the availability and quality of primary care services, including for people in rural and medically underserved areas. The Working Group will include members from relevant Federal agencies and nongovernmental entities as the Secretary chooses. It must seek input from States and other nonfederal groups (such as patient groups, health professionals, researchers, and health industry representatives) and deliver a report with recommendations to Congress within 1 year after the Working Group is established.

What it means for you#

  • The bill requires more public information about how much Federal money goes to primary care in covered programs.
  • The bill does not itself change benefits, payment rates, or require new spending for health care services.
  • The Working Group may recommend changes that could affect patients, providers, or program rules later, but any changes would need separate action by Congress or agencies.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on overall costs or appropriations. The bill text does not authorize specific funding. Agencies may incur administrative costs to prepare the required reports and to participate in the Working Group, but the bill does not specify how those costs would be paid.

Proponents' View#

The bill directs reporting and study on primary care spending and access. Supporters (as reflected in the bill) aim to increase transparency about primary care spending and generate recommendations to better prioritize, expand, and improve primary care services, including in rural and medically underserved areas.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.