For immediate release: April 11, 2016

Media Contact: Jessica Berthold, Communications Manager, #510-444-7738, ext. 317

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) announced its largest initiative to date to transform and improve how primary care is delivered and paid for in the United States.

The Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) initiative will pay doctors based on health outcomes, and move away from the traditional fee-for-service payment structure. Dr. Patrick Conway, CMS deputy administrator and chief medical officer, said the CPC+ model will help doctors and other clinicians serve patients’ needs outside of the office, and that it “represents the future of healthcare”.

"Prevention Institute applauds increasing efforts to transform our health system from a “sick care system” to one that prioritizes health, wellness, and prevention. Ensuring that doctors are paid to keep patients healthy in the first place is a key element of this effort," said Leslie Mikkelsen, MPH, RD, managing director at Prevention Institute.

Serving patients’ needs outside of the office visit by ensuring that community environments are safe places to live, work, and play is a hallmark of Prevention Institute’s Community-Centered Health Homes model, which outlines a set of practices for healthcare institutions to improve community conditions that impact health outcomes. A CCHH not only acknowledges that factors outside the healthcare system affect patient health outcomes, it actively participates in improving them to achieve health equity.

“Ensuring that ‘comprehensive primary care’ includes a focus on improving communities is critical to improving health for all patients-- especially in low-wealth communities and communities of color,” said Ms. Mikkelsen.

Please go online to read more about Prevention Institute’s work with Community-Centered Health Homes.

Prevention Institute is an Oakland-based nonprofit that puts prevention and equity at the center of community health and well-being.