Advanced Primary Care
For over a decade, CQC has led initiatives to transform primary care into a foundation for healthier, cost-effective outcomes across California. Through its work with diverse stakeholders — including health plans, purchasers and providers — CQC has pioneered the development of the Advanced Primary Care model, which places patients at the center of every interaction and defines high-quality care through patient-centered, results-oriented measures.
By establishing shared attributes and measures, CQC enables payers, providers and health care purchasers to identify, incentivize and expand high-performing practices. Building on a statewide practice transformation initiative funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CQC’s definition of Advanced Primary Care now serves as a blueprint for quality improvement nationwide. Current programs and initiatives demonstrate how coordinated efforts can standardize high-value primary care, aligning financial incentives to improve access, patient outcomes and cost efficiency.
Current Programs & Initiatives
California Advanced Primary Care Initiative
Read More about California Advanced Primary Care InitiativeThe California Advanced Primary Care Initiative is an effort to strengthen the primary care delivery system throughout the state.
Payment Model Demonstration Project
Read More about Payment Model Demonstration ProjectCalifornia Advanced Primary Care Initiative | The Payment Model Demonstration Project will test a common value-based payment model with approximately 30 independent practices in California to strengthen primary care delivery.
Past Programs & Initiatives
Advanced Primary Care Measurement Pilot
Read More about Advanced Primary Care Measurement PilotCalifornia Advanced Primary Care Initiative | Dates Active: 2022-2023 | The measurement pilot tested the effectiveness of the Advanced Primary Care Measure Set and practice performance in California.
Practice Transformation Initiative
Read More about Practice Transformation InitiativeDates Active: 2016-2019 | The Practice Transformation Initiative was a four-year initiative that engaged 4,800 clinicians statewide contracted with provider organizations to improve measures of cost, quality and patient experience.
CalHIVE Telehealth & Virtual Care
Read More about CalHIVE Telehealth & Virtual CareDates Active: 2020–2022 | The CalHIVE Telehealth & Virtual Care Improvement Collaborative was a two-year improvement collaborative providing technical assistance to clinicians to improve remote chronic disease management of patients with diabetes and asthma within the primary care setting.
Intensive Outpatient Care Program
Read More about Intensive Outpatient Care ProgramDates Active: 2012-2015 | The Intensive Outpatient Care Program was a three-year initiative by the California Quality Collaborative from 2012 to 2015, focused on helping provider organizations implement team-based care for high-risk, complex patients.
Featured
Healthcare Innovation Summit | California’s Payer-Provider Value-Based Contracting Breakthrough
Conference Date: June 9 Speaker: Crystal Eubanks, Executive Director, California Quality Collaborative Topic: California’s Payer-Provider Value-Based Contracting Breakthrough Mark […]
‘Pay attention to what we’re doing here’: 3 payers come together on new payment model in California
This article highlights a groundbreaking value-based payment model in California, co-led by CQC and IHA, launched in early 2025 with 11 provider organizations serving around 17,000 patients, aiming to address challenges in primary care reimbursement, health outcomes and disparities.
Blue Shield of California’s Role in a Groundbreaking Payer-Provider Initiative
Blue Shield’s Dr. Nina Birnbaum shares how the health plan is working with CQC, IHA and fellow payers to co-implement a shared value-based payment model. The initiative prioritizes small practices, unified data and aligned incentives to improve care quality and equity across California.
Dr. Todd May, Vice President and Medical Director at Health Net
Health Net’s Dr. Todd May joins the podcast to discuss California’s new multi-payer value-based payment model, co-led by CQC and IHA. He shares how major insurers are working together to strengthen primary care, advance equity and transform provider payment statewide.
A Provider Leader Looks at California’s Multi-Plan Breakthrough Around Value-Based Care
IHA’s Dolores Yanagihara discusses California’s first unified value-based payment model, co-led by CQC and IHA. The initiative supports primary care practices with aligned incentives, shared data and coaching to improve outcomes and equity statewide.
California insurers join forces on value-based primary care model
This Fierce Healthcare article spotlights CQC’s leadership in launching a unified, multi-plan value-based payment model to strengthen primary care in California. The initiative supports independent practices with increased payments, shared data systems, and hands-on coaching—reducing administrative burden and enabling population health approaches that can improve outcomes statewide.
A Health Plan Leader’s Perspective on California’s Multi-Plan Value Breakthrough
Health Net’s Dr. Todd May spotlights CQC’s leadership in a first-of-its-kind value-based payment model uniting three health plans. The initiative supports primary care practices with aligned incentives, unified data and technical assistance to drive better outcomes and equity statewide.
In California, a First-Ever Multi-Plan, Integrated Approach to Value-Based Contracting
This Healthcare Innovation article spotlights CQC’s leadership in launching California’s first unified, multi-plan value-based payment model. In partnership with IHA and three major health plans, the initiative reduces administrative burden, supports independent practices and advances high-quality, equitable primary care statewide.
California Health Plan Leaders Unite for the First Time to Launch New Payment Model Demonstration Project to Fortify Primary Care
In an unprecedented collaboration, three leading California health plans — Aetna, Blue Shield of California and Health Net — have united to co-implement a shared value-based payment model under the California Advanced Primary Care Initiative’s Payment Model Demonstration Project.
Announcements
California Health Plan Leaders Unite for the First Time to Launch New Payment Model Demonstration Project to Fortify Primary Care
In an unprecedented collaboration, three leading California health plans — Aetna, Blue Shield of California and Health Net — have united to co-implement a shared value-based payment model under the California Advanced Primary Care Initiative’s Payment Model Demonstration Project.