On August 1, 2012, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center) released their state innovation models initiative. This is a $275 million competitive funding opportunity for states. On August 7, the state of Minnesota held a stakeholder meeting to discuss next steps to pursue this funding opportunity. Interest in this initiative was very high with over 100 people in attendance representing a wide-range of the healthcare sector in the state from payers and providers in both the public and private sectors.
According to their website, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation “fosters healthcare transformation by finding new ways to pay for and deliver care that improve care and health while lowering costs. The Center identifies, develops, supports, and evaluates innovative models of payment and care service delivery for Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries using an open, transparent, and competitive process. Established by the Affordable Care Act, the CMS Innovation Center is a new engine for revitalizing and sustaining Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and ultimately for improving the healthcare system for all Americans.”
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation created the State Innovation Models initiative for states that are prepared for, or committed to, planning, designing, testing, and supporting evaluation of new payment and service delivery models in the context of larger health system transformation.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is interested in testing innovative payment and service delivery models that have the potential to lower costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), while maintaining or improving quality of care for program beneficiaries. The goal is to create multi-payer models with a broad mission to raise community health status and reduce long term health risks for beneficiaries of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Watch http://www.innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/state-innovations/index.html for announcements about upcoming webinars.