Apply to participate in eight-state primary care model by Dec. 14 

In response to stakeholder feedback, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has extended through Dec. 14 the application deadline for the Making Care Primary Model, a new value-based payment model beginning next July in Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, upstate New York, North Carolina and Washington. Announced in June, the voluntary 10.5-year model aims to strengthen coordination between patients’ primary care clinicians, specialists, social service providers and behavioral health clinicians to prevent chronic disease, reduce emergency room visits and improve health outcomes. Participating organizations must have at least 125 Medicare patients and over half of their primary care sites in a participating state.