The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded $347 million to 16 national, regional or state hospital associations, quality improvement organizations and health systems to continue efforts in reducing hospital-acquired conditions and readmissions in the Medicare program.
"We have made significant progress in keeping patients safe – an estimated 2.1 million fewer patients harmed, 87,000 lives saved, and nearly $20 billion in cost-savings from 2010 to 2014 – and we are focused on accelerating improvement efforts," Patrick Conway, MD, CMS acting principal deputy administrator and chief medical officer, said in a statement in announcing the funding.
[Also: CMS: Hospital readmission rates fell by 8 percent in 49 states, DC]
The 16 organizations receiving contracts in the Hospital Improvement and Innovation Networks:
- Carolinas Healthcare System
- Dignity Health
- Healthcare Association of New York State
- HealthInsight
- The Health Research and Educational Trust of the American Hospital Association
- Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey
- Health Services Advisory Group
- The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
- Iowa Healthcare Collaborative
- Michigan Health & Hospital Association Health Foundation
- Minnesota Hospital Association
- Ohio Children's Hospitals' Solutions for Patient Safety
- Ohio Hospital Association
- Premier, Inc.
- Vizient, Inc.
- Washington State Hospital Association
CMS officials also announced up to $5 million to two awardees over the next three years to leverage primary and specialist care transformation work and learning that will catalyze the adoption of alternative payment models on a large scale.
Initial awards went to: Virginia Cardiac Services Quality Initiative ($670,673) and American Psychological Association ($723,600).
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Email the writer: bernie.monegain@himssmedia.com