Florida spends over $36 billion annually, or a third of the state budget, on Medicaid services. Even with this level of spending, over 7.5 million Floridians live in an area with a shortage of primary care providers. This leads to a lack of critical preventative care and an over reliance on expensive emergency room treatment.

Overall healthcare costs—including all private and public spending—are anticipated to rise nationally by an average of 5.5% per year over the next decade—growing from $3.5 trillion in 2017 to $6 trillion by 2027. While there are many attributing factors to this growth, it has been proven that access to a primary care provider reduces overall cost and generates better medical outcomes.

A one-on-one, personal relationship with a primary care provider leads to the patient being more likely to obtain preventative services and better diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions. Unfortunately, Florida lags the nation in access to this type of care. Nearly a quarter of adults report not having a primary care provider—7th worst in the nation. This has a real impact on cost. Addressing illnesses or chronic conditions that might not have required hospitalization if better managed through primary care costs Floridians an estimated $3.5 billion annually.

Research has found that reporting a regular source of care is a stronger predictor of positive health outcomes than having insurance. Once preventative care opportunities have been missed, costs for services are driven up in a system where spending is already spiraling upward.

In developing this report, the Council undertook a series of interviews with a wide variety of stakeholders, including Florida Community Health Centers, national and state industry associations, organizations representing clinicians, hospital systems, subject-matter experts, state and national government officials, and Florida employers. This report includes a series of recommendations with the goal of delivering the opportunity for a healthier Florida to all residents by increasing access to primary care.