HHS launches care transformation initiative with $685M

The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary will award $685 million to 39 national and regional healthcare networks and supporting organizations to help equip clinicians with the tools and support needed to improve quality of care, increase patients’ access to information and reduce costs.

The Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative is one of the largest federal investments designed to support doctors and other clinicians in all 50 states through collaborative and peer-based learning networks, according to a release.

Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell released the awards in conjunction with a roundtable discussion with members of Congress and healthcare leaders on the transformation from volume to value in healthcare.

“Supporting doctors and other healthcare professionals change the way they work is critical to improving quality and spending our healthcare dollars more wisely,” said Burwell. “These awards will give patients more of the information they need to make informed decisions about their care and give clinicians access to information and support to improve care coordination and quality outcomes.”

The funds will support efforts including:

• Helping providers give patients better tools for communication through e-mails and other IT applications;
• Providing dedicated coaches to help practices better manage chronic disease and offer preventive care;
• Offering real-time notification alerts for clinicians caring for high-risk patients;
• Improving screening and treatment of mental health and substance abuse across multiple care settings and increasing patient medication management education; 
• Centralizing data reporting and providing technical assistance with quality improvement targets and mid-course corrections; and
• Promoting patient, provider and community engagement through advisory boards and community engagement in learning collaboratives.

In addition, 10 national organizations and healthcare professional associations will receive up to $27 million to:

• Align clinical practice guidelines across multiple medical specialties and disseminate those findings through well-established communications channels;
• Offer Continuing Medical Education credit to clinicians to support transformation efforts and ensure that coordinated education programs are offered to participating clinicians;
• Share best practices and provide technical assistance and coaching to their members who may be struggling with how to participate in emerging alternative payment models; and
• Provide educational materials and access to registry data information, including training on how to use the data to improve care.

Specifically, the American College of Emergency Physicians and American College of Radiology intend to engage clinicians, patients and families in reducing unnecessary testing. Working with member emergency department physicians and radiologists they intend to avoid over 1.1 million unnecessary diagnostic imaging tests and engage physicians in collaboratively selecting the most appropriate imaging exam, thus reducing unnecessary exposure to radiation and duplication of tests that inconvenience patients and increase costs.

And, the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium will assess, educate and provide on­ site peer-supported education and training to more than 5,500 rural providers who may wish to transition into Accountable Care Organizations.

These awards are part of a comprehensive strategy advanced by the Affordable Care Act and build upon other programs such as the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Organization Program, Partnership for Patients with Hospital Engagement Networks and accountable care organizations.