Value-based care could mean better access for Traditional Medicare patients, study finds

Medical Economics June 9, 2025
Austin Littrell, Keith A. Reynolds

Key Takeaways

VBC models with strong practice support can increase access to primary care for Traditional Medicare patients, even as overall availability declines.
Physicians in a full-risk VBC model saw an average of 8.3 more new Traditional Medicare patients annually compared to fee-for-service peers.
The study suggests VBC models with infrastructure support and performance coaching can improve care delivery efficiency and patient access.
CMS could consider incorporating access-related metrics into quality programs to reward practices accepting new Traditional Medicare patients.

Physicians in supported, full-risk VBC models saw more new Traditional Medicare patients and kept panels open longer.

A new study in Health Affairs Scholar suggests that value-based care (VBC) models, when paired with strong practice support, may help...

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