Primary Care Deserves Priority: Why Elation Health Supports the Prioritizing Primary Care Act of 2026

At Elation Health, we were proud to sign onto support for the Prioritizing Primary Care Act of 2026, H.R. 8765, alongside a broader group of organizations working to strengthen primary care.

The support letter was submitted on behalf of the Primary Care Collaborative and its Better Health – NOW campaign, a coalition of 65 organizational members that includes clinicians, patient advocates, employer groups, and health plans. In other words, this is not one organization making the case alone. It reflects a broader alignment around a simple idea: primary care is foundational to a healthier, more effective system and should be measured and funded accordingly.

The letter makes that case clearly. It describes primary care as the first point of contact for many patients and a trusted setting for prevention, chronic disease management, and care coordination. It also points to research linking strong primary care systems with lower mortality, longer life expectancy, better health outcomes, and lower chronic disease burden.

At the same time, the U.S. continues to underinvest in primary care. According to the letter, primary care accounted for just 4.5% of total U.S. health care spending in 2023, down from 5.4% in 2012. The letter also notes that more Americans are seeking care in expensive settings or deferring care altogether, while chronic conditions cost taxpayers $4.4 trillion annually.

That is why H.R. 8765 matters. The bill would require annual reporting on federal primary care spending, giving policymakers a clearer picture of how public dollars are invested across prevention, chronic disease management, and behavioral health. The letter frames this as an important first step toward transparency and toward making primary care a more visible priority across federal programs.

For Elation, signing onto this effort reflects the same belief that shapes our work every day: primary care works best when physicians are supported in delivering longitudinal, relationship-based, whole-person care. Better investment in primary care is not just a policy issue. It affects access, continuity, outcomes, and the long-term strength of the care model physicians and patients depend on.

The letter also points out that nearly 20 states already have initiatives to identify and strengthen primary care spending. That growing momentum makes this bill especially important. Better visibility into federal spending can help bring national policy more in line with what physicians, advocates, and health care organizations increasingly recognize: primary care should be prioritized because it is the backbone of the health system.

If we want a stronger, more sustainable health system, primary care cannot remain an afterthought. Now is the time to bring greater visibility, accountability, and investment to the care model that keeps patients healthier and communities stronger.