ACP policy update 2025: What's next for value-based care?

With federal uncertainty surrounding the future of programs like Making Care Primary and Primary Care First, Brian Outland, PhD, director of regulatory affairs at the American College of Physicians (ACP), shares practical guidance for participating practices and outlines ACP’s advocacy efforts.

“Those practices … have investments, upfront investments to get into those programs,” Outland said. “So right now they need to be thinking about how they can continue to sustain that work.”

While the direction of value-based care remains unclear, Outland emphasized the need for continuity and flexibility. “We’re hopeful that we can work with the administration to perhaps build … some sort of an on-ramp for these physicians, so that they can see return on the investment that they made in the future,” he said.

ACP is continuing to support practices with tools and resources. “We’re advocating that those physicians who have put the investment in … see the return on that investment and that there is an on-ramp for those physicians to be able to get on and perhaps get into some other program — or at least be able to sustain the type of practice that they have now and moving forward in value-based payment programs.”