Primary Care Access Linked to Better Chronic Disease Prevention & Lower Costs

The fourth annual national primary care scorecard, released today, March 11, 2026, underscores a critical link between consistent access to primary care and improved health outcomes, particularly in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. The report, a collaborative effort between The Physicians Foundation and the Milbank Memorial Fund, with research conducted by the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Robert Graham Center, highlights that nearly all adults with regular primary care access receive recommended preventive services, a rate significantly higher – 95.5% – than the 67.6% observed among those without a consistent primary care provider.

This year’s findings arrive as the Biden administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda gains momentum, focusing heavily on preventative care to combat the rising tide of chronic illness. Yalda Jabbarpour, MD, medical director of the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies and a coauthor of the scorecard, emphasized the natural alignment between primary care’s core principles and the MAHA initiative. “If you’re focused on Making America Healthy Again and preventing chronic disease, this is nothing new for primary care,” she told Healio. “It’s the cornerstone of what primary care does.”

The Value of a Regular Doctor

The scorecard’s data reveals a clear pattern: individuals with a consistent primary care provider are more likely to receive crucial preventative screenings. For example, 89.2% of those with a regular doctor were screened for high cholesterol, compared to just 56.7% of those without. Similar disparities were observed in screenings for high blood pressure (95.5% vs. 67.6%) and tobacco use (74.4% vs. 48.6%). The report also showed significant differences in cancer screenings, with those having a usual source of primary care experiencing higher rates of mammograms (83.8% vs. 54.2%), Pap smears (84.4% vs. 70.5%), and colon cancer screenings (79% vs. 59.5%).

Beyond preventative care, the report demonstrates a substantial financial benefit to consistent primary care access. Adults with a regular primary care provider experienced 54% lower healthcare spending overall. This benefit extends to children as well, with access to primary care linked to a 50% reduction in emergency room visits for chronic conditions. Ripley Hollister, MD, a board member of The Physicians Foundation and a member of the scorecard’s advisory committee, noted that this cost savings underscores the economic rationale for investing in primary care. “Preventing an emergency room visit for a child is a huge burden on a family and on that child,” he said.

Chronic Disease and Access to Care

The scorecard’s findings highlight the critical role primary care plays in managing chronic diseases. Individuals with access to a regular primary care provider were 11% less likely to require emergency department visits and 20% less likely to be hospitalized. Dr. Jabbarpour explained that even when chronic disease develops, a long-term relationship with a primary care clinician can significantly improve outcomes. “we can’t control everyone’s lifestyle habits, and we can’t control genetics, but what can we do as primary care clinicians once they do develop chronic disease is also important,” she said. “The findings around how if you have a primary care clinician, especially if you have a long term relationship with them — that continuity — you’re less likely to go to the emergency room, you’re less likely to be hospitalized and, you are saving costs for yourself in the health care system.”

Underfunding and the Primary Care Workforce

Despite the clear benefits, access to primary care remains a significant challenge for a substantial portion of the U.S. Population. The report reveals that one-third of Americans currently lack a usual source of primary care. This gap is largely attributed to chronic underfunding of the primary care sector. Dr. Hollister emphasized the need for increased investment, stating, “This report underscores the need for increased investment in primary care to address this burden of chronic disease.” He added that bolstering primary care is not just a matter of improving health outcomes, but also a cost-effective strategy for controlling overall healthcare expenditures.

Last year’s scorecard also focused on the financial challenges facing primary care, and this year’s report continues to track those trends. Currently, less than 5% of total health care expenditures are directed towards primary care, despite its significant impact on population health. Dr. Jabbarpour suggested that shifting towards value-based care models, which reward quality and outcomes rather than volume of services, could help address this imbalance.

Looking Ahead: Policy and Payment Reform

Several initiatives are underway to address the funding gap and promote greater investment in primary care. Dr. Jabbarpour pointed to recent legislative efforts to expand access to preventative services and incentivize value-based care. Some states are also setting benchmarks for primary care spending, requiring payers to invest a certain percentage of their healthcare dollars in primary care services. California, for example, has established both annual and 10-year benchmarks for primary care investment.

However, Dr. Jabbarpour cautioned that simply increasing funding is not enough. Reforms to the payment system are also needed to incentivize primary care providers and reduce administrative burdens. She suggested exploring changes to coding practices to better reflect the preventative nature of primary care services, potentially aligning them with services like colonoscopies that currently have no copay or deductible.

The scorecard’s authors hope that these findings will serve as a call to action for policymakers and healthcare stakeholders. Dr. Hollister concluded, “This report indicates the truth of that statement. Hopefully, going forward, the way we’re going to improve health care in America is by improving our primary care.” The full scorecard and accompanying dashboard are available for review, providing a detailed analysis of primary care access and performance across the United States.

For more information:

Ripley Hollister, MD, and Yalda Jabbarpour, MD, can be reached at [email protected].