High quality primary care is the foundation of a high performing health system. It’s associated with lower overall spending, improved health equity, and better population health over the long run. Yet as a nation we underinvest in primary care. And in New Jersey, we are one of the states with the lowest payment rates for primary care physicians.

At the Quality Institute, we led a focused examination of current primary care payment models in New Jersey — and we convened a work group of experts to create significant steps forward to support the delivery of Advanced Primary Care in New Jersey.

Advanced Primary Care is whole-person, integrated, accessible, and team-based health care that addresses most of an individual’s health needs. This model requires infrastructure to support a care team that includes primary care clinicians and may also include community health workers, clinical social workers, pharmacists, and health coaches. These practices provide expanded hours, telehealth, and technology platforms to better engage with patients and track care across settings.

The report calls for much-needed changes to how we pay for primary care. The report also calls for better data collection and transparency on the physician workforce for fiscal and policy decision-making. It also promotes streamlining reporting on quality measures and recommends a Core Set of measures for use across payers. At the Quality Institute, we will continue work to support Advanced Primary Care. We invite you to read and share the report and join us in this advocacy.