— Lack of primary care emphasis "has consequences for the chronic disease burden that we see"
July 14, 2026
• 3 min read
WASHINGTON -- Healthcare payers, including the federal government, aren't investing enough in primary care, said experts during a conference sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) on Tuesday.
Without that investment, there are "consequences in terms of [detecting] disease and initiating lifestyle change, and consequences in the chronic disease burden that we see in America," including obesity, said Abe Sutton, director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. And yet, "the truth is, we have a great welfare system. We have wonderful resources in place. We have cutting-edge technologies," and the chances of survival in diseases like cancer increase every year.
