In June, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the recipients of 81 new Health Care Innovation Awards including seven that involve Minnesota. The awards were made possible by the federal health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act.
The awards will support innovative projects nationwide designed to deliver high-quality medical care, enhance the health care workforce, and save money. Combined with the awards announced last month, HHS has awarded 107 projects that, according to awardees, intend to save the health care system an estimated $1.9 billion over the next three years.
TransforMED
The awards will support innovative projects nationwide designed to deliver high-quality medical care, enhance the health care workforce, and save money. Combined with the awards announced last month, HHS has awarded 107 projects that, according to awardees, intend to save the health care system an estimated $1.9 billion over the next three years.
Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement
Project Title: “Care
management of mental and physical co-morbidities: a TripleAim
bulls-eye"
Summary: The
Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) of Bloomington, Minnesota is
receiving an award to improve care delivery and outcomes for high-risk adult
patients with Medicare or Medicaid coverage who have depression plus diabetes
or cardiovascular disease. The program will use care managers and
health care teams to assess condition severity, monitor care through a
computerized registry, provide relapse and exacerbation prevention, intensify
or change treatment as warranted, and transition beneficiaries to
self-management. The partnering care systems include clinics in ICSI, Mayo
Clinic Health System, Kaiser Permanente in Colorado and Southern California,
Community Health Plan of Washington, Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative,
Michigan Center for Clinical Systems Improvement, and Mount Auburn Cambridge
Independent Practice Association with support from HealthPartners Research
Foundation and AIMS (Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions).
Over a three-year
period, ICSI and its partners will train the approximately 80+ care managers
needed for this new model.
- Geographic Reach: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, Washington, Colorado, Massachusetts
- Funding Amount: $17,999,635
- Estimated 3-Year Savings: $27,693,046
Project Title: “Patient-centric
electronic environment for improving acute care performance”
Summary: The Mayo
Clinic, in collaboration with US Critical Illness and Injury Trials Group and
Philips Research North America, is receiving an award to improve critical care
performance for Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries in intensive care units (ICUs).
Data shows that 27% of such Medicare beneficiaries face preventable
treatment errors due to information overload among ICU providers. The
Mayo Clinic model will enhance effective use of data using a Cloud-based system
that combines a centralized data repository with electronic surveillance and
quality measurement of care responses. As a result, Mayo expects to
reduce ICU complications and costs. Over a three-year
period, the Mayo Clinic will train 1440 existing ICU caregivers in four diverse
hospital systems to use new health information technologies effectively in
managing ICU patient care.
- Geographic Reach: Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York and Oklahoma
- Funding Amount: $16,035,264
- Estimated 3-Year Savings: $81,345,987
Sanford Health
Project Title: “Sanford
One Care: transforming primary care for the 21st Century”
Summary: Sanford Health is receiving an award to transform health care delivery through the full integration of primary and behavioral health care in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota clinics. Sanford's enhanced fully integrated medical home model features patient‐centered collaborative teams of primary and behavioral health professionals. The Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries along with the Native American and multicultural populations will benefit significantly from this award. This model of workforce development and rapid process redesign, along with the integration of behavioral health and primary care, will improve clinical outcomes and drive efficient utilization of resources. Key aims include transforming the role of Primary Care, integrating RN Health Coaches and Behavioral Health Triage Therapists, fully integrating behavioral health care into the medical home model, maximizing Information Technology and standardizing transparent clinical metrics. Tele-health technology will allow patients at remote clinic sites to access enhanced clinical services including psychologists and psychiatrists. Over a three-year period, Sanford Health’s program will train an estimated 425 health care providers creating enhanced clinical and patient engagement skills, as well as create an estimated 23 jobs in the areas of clinical services, behavioral health, and information technology.
Summary: Sanford Health is receiving an award to transform health care delivery through the full integration of primary and behavioral health care in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota clinics. Sanford's enhanced fully integrated medical home model features patient‐centered collaborative teams of primary and behavioral health professionals. The Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries along with the Native American and multicultural populations will benefit significantly from this award. This model of workforce development and rapid process redesign, along with the integration of behavioral health and primary care, will improve clinical outcomes and drive efficient utilization of resources. Key aims include transforming the role of Primary Care, integrating RN Health Coaches and Behavioral Health Triage Therapists, fully integrating behavioral health care into the medical home model, maximizing Information Technology and standardizing transparent clinical metrics. Tele-health technology will allow patients at remote clinic sites to access enhanced clinical services including psychologists and psychiatrists. Over a three-year period, Sanford Health’s program will train an estimated 425 health care providers creating enhanced clinical and patient engagement skills, as well as create an estimated 23 jobs in the areas of clinical services, behavioral health, and information technology.
- Geographic Reach: South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa
- Funding Amount: $12,142,606
- Estimated 3-Year Savings: $14,135,429
Courage Center
Project Title: “Courage
Center”
Summary: Courage Center is receiving an award to test a community-based medical home model to serve 300 adults with disabilities and complex health conditions, particularly complex neurological conditions, in Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area. The intervention will coordinate and improve access to primary and specialty care, increase adherence to care, and empower participants to better manage their own health. Over 50 Independent Living Skills Specialists, Peer Leaders, and other health professionals will be trained with enhanced skills to fulfill the medical home mission. This community-based and patient-centered approach is expected to reduce avoidable hospitalizations, lower cost, and improve the quality of care for this vulnerable group of people with an estimated savings of over $2 million over the three year award.
Summary: Courage Center is receiving an award to test a community-based medical home model to serve 300 adults with disabilities and complex health conditions, particularly complex neurological conditions, in Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area. The intervention will coordinate and improve access to primary and specialty care, increase adherence to care, and empower participants to better manage their own health. Over 50 Independent Living Skills Specialists, Peer Leaders, and other health professionals will be trained with enhanced skills to fulfill the medical home mission. This community-based and patient-centered approach is expected to reduce avoidable hospitalizations, lower cost, and improve the quality of care for this vulnerable group of people with an estimated savings of over $2 million over the three year award.
- Geographic Reach: Minnesota
- Funding Amount: $1,767,667
- Estimated 3-Year Savings: $2 million
Project
Title: “Multi-community partnership between TransforMED, hospitals
in the VHA system and a technology/data analytics company to support
transformation to PCMH of practices connected with the hospitals and
development of “Medical Neighborhood”
Summary:
TransforMED, in partnership with 12 VHA-affiliated hospitals throughout the
county, is receiving an award for a primary care redesign project to support
care coordination among Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH), specialty
practices, and hospitals, creating “medical neighborhoods.” The project
will use a sophisticated analytics engine to identify high risk patients and
coordinate care across the medical neighborhood while driving PCMH
transformation in a number of primary care practices in each community.
Truly comprehensive care will improve care transitions and reduce unnecessary
testing, leading to lower costs with better outcomes.
Over a three-year
period, TransforMED’s program will train an estimated 3,024 workers and create
an estimated 22 jobs. The new workers will include an innovation project
manager, project control specialists, project managers, an implementation team,
a project team, an integration architect, an application trainer, and a
population health management advisor.
- Geographic Reach: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, West Virginia
- Funding Amount: $20,750,000
- Estimated 3-Year Savings: $52,824,000
YMCA
Project Title: “Delivery
on the promise of diabetes prevention programs"
Summary: The National Council of Young Men's Christian Associations of the United States of America (Y-USA), in partnership with 17 local Ys currently delivering the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance, and 7 other leading national non-profit organizations focused on health and medicine, is receiving an award to serve 10,000 pre-diabetic Medicare beneficiaries in 17 communities across the U.S. The intervention will focus on community-based diabetes prevention through a national diabetes prevention lifestyle change program, coordinated and taught by trained YMCA Lifestyle Coaches. The goal is to prevent the progression of pre-diabetes to diabetes, which will improve health and decrease costs associated with complications of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. The investments made by this grant are expected to generate cost savings beyond the three year grant period.
Summary: The National Council of Young Men's Christian Associations of the United States of America (Y-USA), in partnership with 17 local Ys currently delivering the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance, and 7 other leading national non-profit organizations focused on health and medicine, is receiving an award to serve 10,000 pre-diabetic Medicare beneficiaries in 17 communities across the U.S. The intervention will focus on community-based diabetes prevention through a national diabetes prevention lifestyle change program, coordinated and taught by trained YMCA Lifestyle Coaches. The goal is to prevent the progression of pre-diabetes to diabetes, which will improve health and decrease costs associated with complications of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. The investments made by this grant are expected to generate cost savings beyond the three year grant period.
Over a three-year
period, Y-USA and its partners will train an estimated 1500 workers and create
an estimated eight jobs. The new jobs will include communication
specialists, a program manager, an administrative manager, a workforce
development manager, evaluation specialists, training specialists, and
administrative coordinators.
- Geographic Reach: Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas
- Funding Amount: $11,885,134
- Estimated 3-Year Savings: $4,273,807
Dartmouth College Board of Trustees
Project Title: “Engaging
patients through shared decision making: using patient and family
activators to meet the triple aim”
The Dartmouth College Board of Trustees is receiving an award to collaborate with 15 large health care systems around the country to hire Patient and Family Activators (PFAs). The PFAs will be trained to engage in shared decision making with patients and their families, focusing on preferences and supplying sensitive care choices. PFAs may work with patients at a single decision point or over multiple visits for those with chronic conditions. It is anticipated that this intervention will lead to a reduction in utilization and costs and provide invaluable data on patient engagement processes and effective decision making—leading to new outcomes measures for patient and family engagement in shared decision making.
The Dartmouth College Board of Trustees is receiving an award to collaborate with 15 large health care systems around the country to hire Patient and Family Activators (PFAs). The PFAs will be trained to engage in shared decision making with patients and their families, focusing on preferences and supplying sensitive care choices. PFAs may work with patients at a single decision point or over multiple visits for those with chronic conditions. It is anticipated that this intervention will lead to a reduction in utilization and costs and provide invaluable data on patient engagement processes and effective decision making—leading to new outcomes measures for patient and family engagement in shared decision making.
Over a three-year
period, the Dartmouth College Board of Trustees-sponsored program will train
5,775 health care workers and create 48 positions for patient and family
activators.
- Geographic Reach: California, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington
- Funding Amount: $26,172,439
- Estimated 3-Year Savings: $63,798,577
For more information
on the awards announced today, go to: innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/innovation-awards/project-profiles.html.
