Follow the money: A message to primary care

There are reasons for optimism about value-based care under the current administration. Meanwhile, physicians also should contact their members of Congress to have an influence on national health care policy. Accountable for Health CEO Mara McDermott, JD, offers this message to primary care physicians.

Medical Economics: Our main audience is primary care physicians. What would you like to say to them? Or what would you like them to know?

Mara McDermott, JD: Well, we do a lot of work in primary care, and I think 2025 was a pretty great year from a policy perspective for primary care clinicians. We are really seeing the administration lean in on primary care, changes in the physician fee schedule that support primary care. And I think there's a ton of opportunity with new models for primary care clinicians to either continue on the path of value-based care, or to get on that path. If they want to every audience I talk to, I say basically the same thing, which is that if you are not engaged with your congressional offices, we would like for you to be. It's so important that members of Congress hear from you. It's obviously critical to the mission of Accountable for Health. But we are always encouraging our clinician members, our physicians, and particularly primary care, to get to know your local member of Congress, to participate. Many of them have health care roundtables and discussions. It is just so important that they are hearing from you. I know that's the last thing anyone wants to add to their plate, but I would just say it is critically important to be sharing the stories, patient stories, things you're seeing in your community, things they can do to support your businesses. It is critically important.