Making Primary Care Pay Off: Why Time is the Most Valuable Asset

When aiming to boost return on investment in primary care for any population, maximizing provider-patient time—both per year and per visit—should be the highest priority. Time fosters relationships and trust, which drive better adherence and improved outcomes. It also enables a more comprehensive understanding of individuals, supporting customized care plans that include robust screening, education, and treatment for behavioral health. While proactive primary and behavioral health care may lead to modest increases in upfront professional claims costs—especially with expanded delivery methods like telehealth—the potential for long-term value is significant. A clearer understanding of that value, including cost-effectiveness analyses of routine screening and PROACTIVE CARE, can help benefits leaders justify the investment. For instance, a recent modeling study published in JAMA Health Forum found that universal annual depression screening for young adults is cost-effective, generating substantial health benefits and remaining within accepted cost-effectiveness thresholds, particularly when paired with improved access and treatment efficiency (Doan et al., 2025).

Doan TT, Hutton DW, Wright DR, Prosser LA. (2025). Cost-Effectiveness of Universal Routine Depression Screening for Adolescents in Primary Care. JAMA Health Forum, 6(5), e250711. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2025.0711