Are you a primary care practice that’s considering joining the Making Care Primary model? If so, you may have concerns about the experience needed to participate in a value-based care model. In this blog post, we’ll explore whether VBC experience is a requirement to apply for MCP and what benefits you can expect from the program, regardless of your experience level. Is value-based care experience required for MCP? Primary care providers don’t need VBC experience to apply for MCP. However, since MCP is a multi-state initiative , you do need to be located in one of the following states: Colorado; Massachusetts; Minnesota; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; or Washington. Note, in New York only upstate counties are included under the model. See Appendix D in the Making Care Primary Request for Applications for more information.  Is there an advantage for practices with little to no VBC experience? One of the key benefits of the model is that primary care providers who...

The Making Care Primary model presents a unique new opportunity for practices to deliver advanced primary care over 10.5 years. As a primary care provider, you may be wondering whether you should take on the risk and how you’ll manage the program requirements, especially if you’ve never participated in a value-based care model before. In this blog, we’ll cover four noteworthy model benefits you may not have considered. These model design elements aim to reduce historic participation barriers and provide an on-ramp for primary care practices to transition to value-based care.   Benefit #1: New structure that encourages participation Unlike other alternative payment models, MCP aims to reduce financial exposure and some of the upfront infrastructure challenges for primary care practices with no or limited value-based care experience. CMS created these flexibilities to encourage more primary care clinicians to participate, especially small, independent, rural and safety net organizat...

On June 8, CMS announced the new Making Care Primary Model that will run for 10.5 years, from July 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2034. To ensure you’re ready for the application process, this blog will explain what you need to know about MCP. What is Making Care Primary? The MCP model aims to make advanced primary care more available and sustainable. This model builds upon previous innovative primary care models over the past 10 years, including the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative, Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative Plus and Primary Care First. State participation in MCP CMS announced that the MCP multi-state initiative will be tested under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation in eight states: New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Minnesota, Colorado, New Mexico and Washington. Based on what we know so far, let’s dive into the top five things you’ll need to know about this program. 1. MCP lasts 10.5 years The model duration (10.5 years) for the CMS MCP model...