Final Innovation Awards & New ACO Application Opportunities Announced

The second and final round of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Health Care Innovation Challenge awards were announced and include two new Colorado applicants - Denver Health and Southeast Mental Health Services in Prowers County. They join the Upper San Juan Health District (award announced in May) as the only Colorado-specific proposals to receive awards. Under the Innovation Challenge initiative, these projects are testing creative ways to deliver high-quality health care services at lower costs.
 
Click here for more information on the Colorado-specific awards and multi-state awards that include Colorado organizations.

One Year Report from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations

The One Year Report from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations (CMMI) provides a good overview of its various initiatives, including:

• Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Starting on January 1, 2012, 32 organizations are participating in the Pioneer ACO Model to test what can be achieved through highly coordinated care for more than 850,000 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries. 
• Matching Payment to the Patient Experience—Bundled Payments for Care Improvement. Builds on episode-based payment models pioneered in the private sector by offering providers four patient-centered episode of care models to choose from.  Plans may be able to apply as “Conveners of participating health care providers.” 
• The Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative.  A collaboration between public and private payers and primary care practices to give primary care practices new, public, and private funding for primary care functions not currently supported by fee-for-service payments.
• Engaging Local Innovators—Health Care Innovation Challenge. Will award up to $1 billion in grants to applicants who put into practice the most compelling new ideas for rapidly delivering better health, improved care and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, particularly those with the highest health care needs.

 Read the full One Year Report for more information.