The AAFP has announced plans to launch its largest physician payment test model ever. | Courtesy of Shutterstock
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Amanda Rupp | Apr 17, 2016

AAFP to launch largest physician payment test model to date

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recently announced that it intends to launch its biggest initiative yet aimed at improving the way primary care is given and how payments are given to U.S. primary care physicians.

The initiative is called the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) model. It is a test model that will last for five years; it is scheduled to begin in January 2017 in approximately 20 regions of the U.S. These regions have not yet been decided.

The test will continue the CPC initiative from 2012, which was successful for several family physicians.

The AAFP hopes to bring in approximately 20,000 doctors and health care professionals, helping an estimated 25 million patients. The ultimate goal is to improve both the health of, and service for, patients.

"By supporting primary care doctors and clinicians to spend time with patients, service patients' needs outside of the office visit and better coordinate care with specialists, we can continue to build a health care system that results in healthier people and smarter spending of our health care dollars," Patrick Conway, CMS deputy administrator and chief medical officer, said.

If successful, the initiative could help physicians have more freedom to provide patient care.

“Physicians who are redesigning their practices must purchase or upgrade electronic health records, reconfigure or add medical office staff, and commit additional time for communication with subspecialists, pharmacists, hospitals, home care agencies and therapists," AAFP President Wanda Filer said.

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