RECORDING: Panel Discussion on the Proposed Rule and Shared Savings Program Proposal
Tuesday, August 5
11am MT/12pm CT/1pm ET
Tuesday, August 5, HealthTeamWorks CEO Cecilia Saffold moderated a panel of national thought leaders to unpack the CMS 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule and Shared Saving Program Proposal. This timely discussion focused on the CMS 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule and its impact on primary care. Key points included the cautious optimism about the rule’s potential benefits, such as expanded behavioral health integration and telemedicine enhancements. Concerns were raised about the sustainability of financial bumps and the need for comprehensive payment models. The panel emphasized the importance of community care hubs, caregiver support, and technology integration. They also highlighted the need for transparency in ACO payments and the challenges faced by small, independent practices in adapting to these changes.
Recording
Panelists
Russell Kohl, MD, FAAFP
CMO and COO at TMF Health Quality Institute
Russell Kohl, MD, FAAFP, is a family physician living in Stilwell, Kansas. He is Chief Medical Officer and Chief Operating Officer of TMF Health Quality Institute, a Medicare quality improvement organization supporting assorted CMMI programs and directly supporting the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. He cares for patients with the non-profit Care Beyond the Boulevard as a street medicine physician, providing direct medical care to those living in homeless encampments throughout the Kansas City metro area. He is also a Colonel, Chief Flight Surgeon, and State Air Surgeon within the Missouri Air National Guard, and is the current Speaker of the Congress of Delegates for the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Larry McNeely, MPA
Director of Policy at PCC
As PCC’s Director of Policy, Larry helps shape and advance a policy agenda aimed at building a comprehensive, team-based and patient-centered primary care system. He coordinates PCC’s Policy and Advocacy Committee and Behavioral Health Integration Workgroup.
Mr. McNeely’s career includes policy roles at the American Diabetes Association, where he guided its diabetes prevention and health equity policy advocacy, and the Maryland Department of Health. From 2011 to 2017, as Policy Director at the National Coalition on Health Care, he led that diverse multistakeholder coalition’s policy development and advocacy efforts. Previously, Mr. McNeely guided U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s (US PIRG’s) campaign to secure federal health reform.
Mr. McNeely earned a Master of Public Administration from West Virginia University. He also holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in philosophy and the history and philosophy of math and science from St. John’s College, Annapolis, Md.
Kristi Bohling-DaMetz, RN, BSN, MBA
Director of Aging and Adult Services, MARC
With more than 30 years of combined experience in clinical care, organizational development, community engagement, and executive leadership, Kristi is Director of the Aging and Adult Services Department at the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), a metropolitan planning organization in Kansas City. MARC is the Area Agency on Aging for the Kansas City region and leads the bi-state Community Support Network, a nationally recognized community care hub model. Other programs include food as medicine, community health worker (CHW), and communities for all ages. Additionally, Kristi is President of the Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging (ma4).
Moderator
Cecilia Saffold, MBA, PMP
CEO, HealthTeamWorks
Saffold leads HealthTeamWorks’ efforts to strengthen primary care, improve health outcomes, and foster trust between healthcare systems and communities. With over 20 years of experience in non-profit leadership, Cecilia has guided national practice transformation initiatives, developed innovative care delivery models, and supported health systems in translating strategy into measurable change. She has held senior roles at TransforMED and Clear Sky One, founded a healthcare technology startup, and led neighborhood revitalization and public health advocacy efforts. Cecilia holds a BA from Northwestern University and an Executive MBA from Rockhurst University, as well as credentials in project management, Lean Six Sigma, and healthcare workflow optimization.
