Primary‑care clinicians tell committee S126 must give them more authority, funding and data access to rein in costs

Summary

Members of the Green Mountain Care Board’s Primary Care Advisory Group and practicing clinicians told legislators on April 25 that primary care needs a larger, better‑resourced role in S126. Speakers urged stronger involvement in policy decisions, improved data sharing, changes to payment and more residency slots to address workforce shortages.

A group of primary‑care clinicians and advisory‑group members told a legislative committee on April 25 that S126 and related policy work should give primary care a stronger, better‑resourced voice and concrete authority to change system behavior.

A physician participating in the Green Mountain Care Board Primary Care Advisory Group (PCAG) told the committee the group represents clinicians from federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), hospital‑affiliated practices, private and direct‑primary‑care practices, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The speaker said the advisory group has advised state officials since 2018 but lacks the ability to drive implementation: "I don't think we have any teeth," said Faye Homan, a family physician who practices at an FQHC.

Clinicians urged several near‑term priorities: raise the primary‑care spend rate from historically low levels, expand residency training slots and pipeline…

Primary‑care clinicians tell committee S126 must give them more authority, funding and data access to rein in costs

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading