Primary Care’s Rug Pulled Out?
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By
February 13, 2026
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8 min
Patricia Hall, MD, a family physician at Celo Health Center in North Carolina, faces increasing challenges due to a looming healthcare worker shortage and bureaucratic inefficiencies within the U.S. healthcare system. The cancellation of the federal Making Care Primary program, designed to strengthen primary care access in rural areas, adds to the difficulties of managing patient care and coordinating services. A new program, Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD), may not restore trust or improve care efficiently, as many fear that the changes will exacerbate existing problems.
1. Patricia Hall, MD, works in a clinic facing a healthcare shortage. 2. Making Care Primary program aimed to improve access to rural healthcare. 3. Program was abruptly canceled, leading to skepticism among doctors. 4. New LEAD program may not restore trust or improve efficiency. 5. Access to primary care impacts patient outcomes and potential emergency visits.
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