The state Office of Health Strategy (OHS) announced Monday that it has adopted cost growth benchmarks and primary care spending targets for the next five years that were proposed earlier this month.
The state Office of Health Strategy (OHS) announced Monday it has adopted cost growth benchmarks and primary care spending targets for the next five years that were proposed earlier this month.
The cost growth benchmark for 2026-30 is 2.8% for each of the next five years. It is linked to the projected median household income values over the same period.
The primary care spending target of 10% “supports the strong foundation of primary care needed for a high-functioning and affordable healthcare system,” OHS said.
According to state law, in developing the cost growth and primary care benchmarks, the OHS commissioner shall consider:
- Any historical and forecast changes in median income for individuals in the state and the growth rate of potential gross state product;
- The inflation rate; and
- The most recent report prepared by the OHS executive director.
The five-year benchmark and primary care spending target were developed by OHS and its healthcare benchmark initiative technical team after a process that included seven public meetings.
In determining the benchmark and the spending target, OHS said it considered the benchmark team’s recommendations. The team recommended benchmarks of 2.7% for each of 2026 and 2027, 2.5% for 2028 and 2029, and 2.2% for 2030.
The agency said it ultimately decided to adjust the recommendations to 2.8% for each of the five years in order to “maximize alignment between the 2026-30 Quality Benchmarks and the Aligned Measure Set’s Core measures.”
The complete set of benchmarks for Medicaid, Medicare and commercial payers is available in a 16-page report posted
online.
OHS said the state’s Healthcare Benchmark Initiative will continue to “prioritize transparency and collaboration in its efforts to limit healthcare cost growth, enhance quality and nurture investment in primary care.”
