Primary Care Development Corporation

Our health care system is out of balance, leaving primary care woefully underfunded.

Even though primary care clinicians provide one in every three health visits, less than five cents of every health care dollar is spent on primary care. At the same time, New York spends more on health care overall than the national average, but its health outcomes lag behind other states. Such underinvestment runs counter to what we know: primary care has a high return on investment by improving health and saving money. Recognizing the value of primary care, there is a growing national movement to rebalance health care spending to direct a greater share to primary care. At least 18 states have adopted or considered policies to increase primary care investment. In 2023, NYHealth awarded the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) a second grant to expand its statewide initiative to define, measure, and report on current primary care spending and increase investment in primary care services. In 2025, NYHealth awarded PCDC a grant to implement a multi-pronged advocacy strategy aimed at directing a greater share of health care spending to primary care.  

Under this grant, PCDC will implement the next phase of its advocacy campaign to support policies that increase investment in primary care. It will assess past efforts, adapt strategies to the evolving federal landscape, and integrate messaging generated by NYHealth supported communications and research. PCDC will advocate for a State executive order, engage legislators and high-level stakeholders, and lead a coalition in coordinated outreach. It will deploy targeted communications to highlight the value of primary care and continue to lead a multi-state investment network to inform New York’s approach. If a policy is enacted in 2025, PCDC will pivot to support its effective implementation.