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Committee renews primary care payment reform collaborative, adds pediatric seat
Summary
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to continue the Primary Care Payment Reform Collaborative through 2032 and adopted an amendment to explicitly include pediatric representation; supporters said the collaborative helps align payment reform and advance value‑based primary care.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to continue the Primary Care Payment Reform Collaborative through Sept. 1, 2032, adopting an amendment to explicitly include pediatric representation and moving Senate Bill 193 forward with a favorable recommendation.
Supporters told the committee the collaborative has produced annual recommendations and tools intended to strengthen primary care investment and align payment models across payers. Tara Smith (testimony identifying role as facilitator of the collaborative) described the collaborative’s work in defining primary care, developing methodology to measure investment, and centering equity in recommendations.
Dr. Kyle Leggett, a family physician and health policy researcher, said the collaborative has helped Colorado “lay the groundwork for increased investment by recommending a standard definition of primary care and developing a methodology to collect and analyze the value, not the volume, of services.” He urged the committee to continue the collaborative’s work.
The committee adopted an amendment requested by the American Academy of Pediatrics to ensure pediatric primary care clinicians are explicitly included in the collaborative’s membership and to recognize pediatric‑specific alternative payment models. Senator Malca (sponsor of the floor amendment) described the change as necessary because “pediatric case loads, treatment approaches, acuity levels ... differ significantly” from adult primary care.
Multiple clinicians and consumer advocates testified in support. Marcia Thorsen, a three‑term collaborative member, told the panel that the collaborative’s multi‑stakeholder approach produces recommendations that have been implemented by regulators and policymakers. Dr. Allison Costello and other primary care clinicians emphasized workforce strain, administrative burden, and the need to align payer incentives to bolster primary care.
Sponsors said the bill contains no appropriation and would extend the collaborative’s statutory authority at low cost. After amendment adoption, Senator Ball (sponsor) moved SB193 to the Committee of Appropriations (as amended) with a favorable recommendation. The committee recorded its vote and reported the bill favorably for continued consideration.
