BY ERIKA MCCARTHY, MMS SENIOR EDITOR AND WRITER
Image by FatCamera via Getty Images.
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) have launched the Primary Care Access, Delivery, and Payment Task Force, a two-year initiative charged with developing recommendations to stabilize
and strengthen the Commonwealth’s primary care system. The Task Force, co-chaired by HPC Executive Director David Seltz and EOHHS Undersecretary for Health Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, brings together policymakers, health system leaders, and clinicians from
across Massachusetts — including several members of the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS).
Dr. Barbara Spivak
Representing the Society on the Task Force is Dr. Barbara Spivak, MMS past president and internist in Watertown. All physicians on the Task Force are also MMS members.
Dr. Spivak described the group as “an amazing collection of people who understand the nuances of the primary care crisis and bring both practical experience and fresh thinking to the table.”
Early efforts have focused on defining what constitutes primary care — a necessary first step toward payment reform and workforce development. “Some pieces are relatively straightforward,” Dr. Spivak said. “But the larger challenges — how to grow the
workforce, reduce administrative burdens, and pay primary care physicians equitably — will take more time.”
Massachusetts currently spends only about six to seven percent of total health care dollars on primary care, well below what many experts recommend. “If we want to reach 12 to 15 percent, it will require a legislative overhaul,” Dr. Spivak explained.
“The Task Force was given two years for a reason — we all want immediate fixes, but sustainable reform takes time.”
Short-term priorities include identifying ways to expand the primary care workforce and reduce administrative obstacles that drive physician burnout. The Task Force will soon turn its attention to payment reform, a crucial area for ensuring that increased
funds reach primary care practices directly rather than being absorbed by large health systems.
“The problem in Massachusetts is clear,” said Dr. Spivak. “We simply don’t have enough clinicians — physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — providing primary care in the community. Without that foundation, patients face longer waits,
delayed diagnoses, and higher costs downstream.”
Dr. Spivak hopes the Task Force’s work will lead to meaningful investment in frontline care. “If I could ensure one outcome, it would be a recommendation that increases funding for primary care — and guarantees that those dollars truly reach the practices
and patients who need them.”
Despite the challenges, Dr. Spivak remains optimistic. “If there’s any state that can figure this out, it’s Massachusetts. We have smart, committed people around the table. I’m confident we can find innovative, long-term solutions to rebuild primary care
for the next generation.”
