Federal researchers from the Agency on Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) posted a draft technical brief with the goal of establishing a standardized definition for primary care. AHRQ’s initiative aims to address the existing variability in definitions of what’s considered primary care to align research efforts that ultimately drive policy. AHRQ is looking at three factors: what type of provider is providing the care; where care is delivered; and types of services. A public comment period is open through October 27.
Urgent care needs it too: Although a smaller segment of the industry, urgent care often fills the gaps in primary care and serves to reduce the use of emergency departments. There is no federally recognized definition of urgent care, but as the segment continues to grow, defining its position in the ecosystem could become useful for overarching reimbursement strategies.