Rep. Blumenauer Introduces Primary Care Enhancement Act
Today I am pleased to introduce the Primary Care Enhancement Act of 2019, which would open up more access to affordable primary care.
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a membership-based alternative payment model for primary care in which patients, employers, or health plans pay a DPC physician practice monthly or periodic fees directly for unlimited access to primary care and prevention services. DPC affords the patient more time with the doctor--sometimes an hour per visit--giving the doctor the time to build a true relationship with their patients, so they can better understand and address their health needs.
Today, DPC is providing high-quality care at lower cost for individuals of all ages and incomes across America. By partnering with wrap-around insurance plans that cover non-primary care services, DPC practices now serve patients with private insurance, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid managed care. As opposed to "concierge" physician practices, DPC practices typically charge a low monthly fee of
The Primary Care Enhancement Act clarifies two small provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that treat these innovative primary care arrangements for employees and individuals as health plans rather than medical services. More than twenty states have passed laws defining DPC as a medical service and not a health plan regulated by state insurance law. Likewise,
As more individuals and employers seek to utilize the DPC delivery model, it is important that an outdated tax barrier not get in the way of patients accessing this successful model of care.
While many of us have philosophical differences about HSAs and their role in health care, my legislation is not an expansion of HSAs themselves; rather, it is a narrow clarification providing tax equity for individuals who want to use DPC arrangements. I urge my colleagues support this bipartisan effort to expand access and continue the movement towards better primary care at lower costs.
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