Washington lawmakers hear plan to boost primary care spending, shift payment toward team-based care

Summary

State health officials, physician groups and community health centers told the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee that Washington spends roughly 6% of health dollars on primary care, well below the legislature—s 12% goal, and urged multi-payer payment changes, higher Medicaid rates and support for team-based models to expand access.

The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on Friday heard that Washington currently spends about 6% of total health expenditures on primary care and that state leaders and health systems must change payment models to expand access.

Dr. Judy Zirzen Thule, chief medical officer at the Health Care Authority, told the committee that primary care investment in Washington remains low and that current fee-for-service payment fragments care and discourages team-based models. "Primary care spending is just under 6% of total expenditures in Washington state," Zirzen Thule said, adding that the legislature set a 12% target in 2022 through Senate Bill 5589.

The gap between current spending and the 12% goal matters because primary care teams — clinicians, medical assistants, community health workers and care coordinators — need payment structures that cover non‑billable team activities, speakers said. "The best primary care isn—t just a doctor or a nurse interacting with you. It—s a whole team," Zirzen Thule said.

Sean Graham, director of government…

Washington lawmakers hear plan to boost primary care spending, shift payment toward team-based care

Summary

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