Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Grant-Supported Primary Care Faculty Development

Health reform requires well-trained primary care physicians with new skills. Teaching faculty need to develop proficiency to deliver care in new models and systems, to lead change, and to teach these skills to the next generation of clinicians. Title VII Section 747 of the Public Health Service Act, modified and reauthorized under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), is the only federal program that specifically supports the professional development of primary care faculty. We analyzed the effect of the modifications under the ACA on a funding opportunity announcement addressing faculty development needs and attributes of funded applications, including geographic regions. The data offer useful insights to programs interested in tapping sources of support for primary care faculty development. The data also show that targeted federal funding can bring about changes that contribute to an up-to-date, responsive primary care workforce. Title VII programs, as amended by the ACA, focus on curriculum development, teaching in community-based settings, and integrating patient-centered medical home concepts and interprofessional education and practice into the training of the next generation of physicians. These strategies drive change and improve the quality of care and patient outcomes.