Private Plans in Michigan Stall Under CPC+ Model

A primary care reform model in Michigan failed to deliver intended cost savings and quality improvements among two private payers, casting doubt on whether current value-based model designs in the primary care space have the muscle to exert real benefits. 

A study published in the September issue of Health Affairs analyzed the spending and quality results of two large insurers in Michigan that offered a payment reform model designed after the federal Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) program. The results were muted: Among the private payers involved, the CPC+ model failed to reduce total spending; the results indicate that, when accounting for care management fees, spending actually rose under the CPC+ program. On the quality side, performance remained unchanged between CPC+ and non-CPC+ participants.