Giving Compass' Take:

• Shannon Muchmore examines the new CMS primary care payment program and the potential pitfalls and benefits of the program.

• The CMS program has pathways to support chronic illnesses. What are you and your communities greatest needs from health care? Can new solutions be found to address those needs?

• Read more about local health care markets.

The so-called Primary Cares Initiative (CMS) set lofty goals, including getting a quarter of providers and beneficiaries to sign up. The program, however, is fully voluntary, and some paths carry significant downside risk. That leaves a key question: Will providers sign up and will they stay in?

Blair Childs, senior vice president at Premier, noted that hospitals and doctors tend to cling to tried-and-true methods, despite inefficiencies. "Getting somebody to leave fee-for-service is really, really hard," he said

Other details have yet to be released, but it's clear this program will be watched closely as the U.S. healthcare system moves toward leaving fee-for-service behind.

The model garnered bipartisan praise, including from former CMS officials. Andy Slavitt, who ran the agency during President Barack Obama's administration, encouraged physician groups to consider and give feedback.

PCI has two paths — one for small or individual practices (Primary Care First, with two models) and one for larger practices or health systems (Direct Contracting, with three models). Each model features monthly capitated payments, and they have a range of risk sharing options. Some of the models also have extra incentives for treating patients with chronic conditions.

While the four models scheduled to roll out in January are fairly fleshed out, a few key details are still outstanding.

The exact benchmarks for payment rates are still unknown, but will be an important factor for practices weighing participation.

There's also the question of how specifically CMS will determine a patient has been kept sufficiently healthy and other quality measures. And it's still not known what waivers CMS may allow for some providers that wish to participate.

Read the full article about the new CMS primary care payment program by Shannon Muchmore at Healthcare Dive.