PROFILE: Primary Care Investment Initiative
The Colorado Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP) is the only organization dedicated solely to family physicians in the state of Colorado. The academy was founded in 1948 and currently represents over 2,400 practicing and retired family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students. The CAFP’s mission is to serve as the bold champion for Colorado’s family physicians, patients and communities, through education and advocacy.
Project Summary: The Primary Care Investment Initiative is a project to understand how Coloradans invest in primary care – from the share of the health care dollar spent on primary care, to progress on payment reform. By measuring how much of the spending is fee-for-service compared to alternative payment models, it is possible to measure progress toward paying for value-based care rather than volume-based care.
Benefit to Colorado: Nationally, estimates show Americans spend only 5-7% of their health care dollars on primary care, when some 53% of all visits are to a primary care provider. Once there is a more complete picture of primary care investments in Colorado, the CAFP will be able to inform discussions on how to improve care for Coloradans, including expanding primary care capacity in rural areas with provider shortages and focusing on ways to ensure patients get the care they need, at a price they can afford.
