Lawmakers back long-term plan to boost primary care spending and workforce

Supporters described Senate Bill 3141 as a comprehensive effort to shore up primary care. Representative Peter Schwartz of Newton, who identified himself as a primary care physician, told the chamber that primary care currently accounts for "just 6.7%" of health spending in Massachusetts and outlined a staged plan to increase that share to 9% by 2030, 12% by 2033 and 15% by 2036. Schwartz said the bill includes payment reforms, protections to reduce administrative burden, incentives to recruit and retain clinicians, and a $25 million health-care workforce transformation fund with 50% available for loan forgiveness programs to attract new providers.

The bill would also require commercial insurers to pay at least Medicaid rates to community health centers, improve pharmacy-rebate pass-throughs to patients, and limit automated negative-coverage decisions by requiring some human review. Lawmakers adopted consolidated Amendment A after roll-call votes and passed the underlying bill to be engrossed; supporters said the measure is intended to expand access and reduce long-term costs by strengthening primary care.