Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation

Community Care Cooperative Awarded ACO REACH Contract from CMS, Expands Network to FQHCs in Louisiana

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Managed Care, General Health, Health, Other Health, Medicaid, BIPOC, FQHC, CMMI, Acos, Safety, Medicare, ACO, Patient, News, Federally Qualified Health Center, Risk, Health equity, AHL, Partnership, CMS, Growth, Accountable care organization, Community, Access Health CT, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Health insurance, Nursing, C3

Community Care Cooperative (C3), the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) created and governed by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Massachusetts, announced today that it was awarded an ACO REACH contract from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).

Key Points: 
  • Community Care Cooperative (C3), the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) created and governed by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Massachusetts, announced today that it was awarded an ACO REACH contract from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).
  • ACO REACH is a new value-based care model that is aligned with C3’s commitment to advancing health equity, moderating costs, and improving outcomes for members.
  • C3 currently operates as a Medicaid ACO in Massachusetts on behalf of 23 FQHCs – and believes ACO REACH is an opportunity for the seven FQHCs under the Medicare contract to bring its highly effective model of care to a broader patient population.
  • With the addition of AHL to its network for ACO REACH, C3 expects to serve over 1,400 Medicare patients in Louisiana and 10,000 Medicare patients in Massachusetts through the program.

MSU Health Care and RecoveryOne to Deliver Virtual and In-Person Physical Therapy Services in Michigan

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Patient, Neurology, Medicare, Depression, Back pain, Workforce, Neck, Therapy, Sport, Family, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Anxiety, MSK, Rehabilitation, AI, Nursing, Health insurance

EAST LANSING, Mich. and WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Feb. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MSU Health Care and RecoveryOne, a leading digital health innovator dedicated to improving clinical and economic outcomes for conditions stemming from musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders, are collaborating to transform the delivery of MSK care to residents in Michigan. In this novel collaboration, RecoveryOne's clinically-validated virtual platform for MSK conditions will be integrated into MSU Health Care's network, increasing access to care and expanding services into the home. The virtual services will complement MSU Health Care's in-person physical medicine and rehabilitation services, helping to improve community health and healing while reducing overall costs.

Key Points: 
  • The virtual services will complement MSU Health Care's in-person physical medicine and rehabilitation services, helping to improve community health and healing while reducing overall costs.
  • Through this collaboration, patients in Michigan will have more options and flexibility to access physical therapy services to fully recover from their MSK conditions.
  • Our musculoskeletal services within our primary care, neurology, rehabilitation, physical therapy, imaging and osteopathic manipulation will benefit from this additional modality," said Roger Jansen, Chief Innovation Officer of MSU Health Care.
  • "By adding virtual physical therapy, MSU Health Care patients have more flexibility to recover on their terms, making it easier for them to fit therapy into their busy schedules and recover more quickly.

SYNERGY HOMECARE LAUNCHES NEW CONCIERGECARE OFFERING

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 6, 2023
CMS, Caregiver, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Transport, Safety, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Medicare, Environment, United Kingdom Homecare Association, Patient, Hospital, Customer service

GILBERT, Ariz., Feb. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SYNERGY® HomeCare, the nation's fastest growing home care franchise, an Entrepreneur 500 ranked enterprise and a Top 200 Franchise according to Franchise Business Review, today announced the launch of ConciergeCare, a new high-touch home care offering designed to ease the process of returning home post-discharge from a hospital, rehabilitation facility, skilled nursing facility, or specialty outpatient surgery center.

Key Points: 
  • The SYNERGY HomeCare ConciergeCare program is built upon a Five-Star approach to care, which is based on quality indicators used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
  • Packages range from a few days of post-discharge support to an entire month or more of care.
  • All care packages can be extended as needed, and optional add-on services are available.
  • Level of care supports efforts to reduce hospital readmission, emergency room visits, and prevent falls and injury.

Calvary Hospital President & CEO Frank Calamari to Retire

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
MD, Medical Center, Health maintenance organization, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County v. Talevski, 21st Century Cures Act, Congress, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Volunteering, Comfort, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Medicine, Health, Hospital, COVID-19, Insurance, Internal medicine, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Love, Patient, Terminal, Saint Vincent, Hospice, Jacobi Medical Center, Calvary Hospital, Nursing, Management, Calvary, Medicare

BRONX, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Frank Calamari, President and Chief Executive Officer of Calvary Hospital, will retire on March 10 after 36 years of devotion and service to the Calvary community, it was announced today. Calvary's Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Christopher P. Comfort, MD, will succeed Mr. Calamari.

Key Points: 
  • BRONX, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Frank Calamari, President and Chief Executive Officer of Calvary Hospital, will retire on March 10 after 36 years of devotion and service to the Calvary community, it was announced today.
  • Calamari, who was appointed President and CEO in 1986, will continue to champion Calvary by remaining an active member of The Calvary Fund Board.
  • Under the 21st Century Cures Act (2016-16), Calvary received a new designation in Medicare as an extended neoplastic disease care hospital.
  • "Frank and Chris have done everything to ensure that the Calvary family is at the side of anyone who needs end-of-life care.

Licking Memorial Health Systems, Lifeline of Ohio, and InVita Healthcare Technologies launch iReferral to Increase Donation and Transplantation in Ohio

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 30, 2023
Epic, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Automation, Transplant, CMS, LMHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health, Lifeline of Ohio, Eye, Workflow, Patient, Family, OPO, Nursing, Pharmaceutical industry, Lifeline

NEWARK, Ohio, Jan. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- InVita Healthcare Technologies, Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS), and Lifeline of Ohio (Lifeline), the federally-designated OPO serving central and southeast Ohio, have successfully partnered to launch iReferral to automate LMHS' identification and secure electronic referral of potential organ, tissue, and eye donors to Lifeline. iReferral replaces the prior time-intensive and manual telephonic referral process with seamless electronic system integration that streamlines workflow, returns provider and nursing time to the patient bedside, improves compliance to federal requirements, and maximizes opportunities for donation and transplantation.

Key Points: 
  • NEWARK, Ohio, Jan. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- InVita Healthcare Technologies, Licking Memorial Health Systems ( LMHS ), and Lifeline of Ohio ( Lifeline ), the federally-designated OPO serving central and southeast Ohio, have successfully partnered to launch iReferral to automate LMHS' identification and secure electronic referral of potential organ, tissue, and eye donors to Lifeline.
  • "We are thrilled to partner with LMHS and InVita Healthcare Technologies in this innovative process of streamlining the organ and tissue donation referral process," said Andrew Mullins, CEO of Lifeline of Ohio.
  • "Through this collaboration, more lives will be saved and healed thanks to the generosity of the donor and their family."
  • "Congratulations to LMHS and Lifeline of Ohio on their iReferral launch," said Todd Collins, President & CEO of InVita Healthcare Technologies.

CVS Health and RUSH Collaborate to Increase Health Care Access for Chicago-Area Medicare Patients

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 23, 2023
CVS, RUSH, Community health, CVS Health, Medicare, NYSE, Accountable care organization, REACH, ACO, Transport, Diab, Health equity, Trust, Organization, CMMI, Patient, MinuteClinic, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Pharmaceutical industry, Nursing, Health insurance, Access, R.I, Health

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and CHICAGO, Jan. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Accountable Care Organization, Inc., a division of the CVS Health family of businesses (NYSE: CVS), today announced it has entered into a collaboration with RUSH University System for Health (RUSH) to expand access for Medicare patients to RUSH clinical services in the Chicago area. The collaboration is based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) redesigned direct contracting model, ACO Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (REACH)1.

Key Points: 
  • Agreement establishes new Accountable Care collaboration that emphasizes health equity, coordinated care and improved access
    WOONSOCKET, R.I. and CHICAGO, Jan. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Accountable Care Organization, Inc., a division of the CVS Health family of businesses (NYSE: CVS), today announced it has entered into a collaboration with RUSH University System for Health (RUSH) to expand access for Medicare patients to RUSH clinical services in the Chicago area.
  • "RUSH is honored and excited to work with CVS Health," said Dr. Omar Lateef, RUSH President and Chief Executive Officer.
  • "This provides another option for patients at a time when access to high-quality health care is more important than ever.
  • CVS Health is committed to advancing health equity for its customers, colleagues, clients and communities by improving trust, health care access and quality of health for every population it serves.

Axxess and Dynamic Health IT Partner to Achieve Rigorous Certification

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 23, 2023
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Interoperability, Axxess, ONC, Medicare, Certification, Partnership, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dynamics, Palliative care, Patient, Communication, Nursing

DALLAS and NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Axxess, the leading technology innovator for healthcare at home, and healthcare information firm Dynamic Health IT (DHIT) are partnering to help providers better serve patients and clients.  

Key Points: 
  • Through this partnership, Axxess and DHIT continue to collaborate to ensure Axxess' suite of solutions earns the rigorous ONC-ACB certification.
  • The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) uses its certification to advance the development and use of health IT capabilities and establish expectations for data sharing.
  • "At Dynamic Health IT, we are excited about our interoperability partnership with Axxess," said Dynamic Health IT CEO Jeff Robbins.
  • Axxess has already achieved modular certification and we are confident in our ability to support their CEHRT process throughout 2023."

American Institutes for Research to Help Strengthen Access to Affordable, Quality Health Insurance

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Policy, American Institutes for Research, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Medicare, ACA, CMS, Marketplace, QHP, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, AIR, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Health equity, Federally Qualified Health Center, Human services, Consumer information, Maintenance, Affordable Care Act, Research, Health insurance

AIR has supported CCIIO’s exchange operations since 2013 (initially as IMPAQ, which AIR acquired in 2020).

Key Points: 
  • AIR has supported CCIIO’s exchange operations since 2013 (initially as IMPAQ, which AIR acquired in 2020).
  • AIR’s diverse technical expertise and innovative approach to improving and automating operational processes are instrumental capabilities for providing high-quality support to CCIIO.
  • “AIR is proud to contribute to building a health insurance marketplace that meets the needs of millions of consumers,” said David Baker , senior vice president of AIR’s Health Division.
  • “We look forward to continuing to use our capabilities and resources to support federal efforts to advance health equity by addressing disparities that underlie our health system and expanding access to quality, affordable health coverage and care.”
    AIR’s Health Division helps federal, state, and local governments, health care systems, community organizations, and other stakeholders improve access, quality and equity in the U.S. health care system.

New Approach to Safe Patient Limits on Beacon Hill by MNA Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Joins Legislation to Tackle Longstanding & Untenable Staffing Conditions Exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Umbrella, Weeping, Radio, Hospital, Cape Cod Times, Falls, Cape Cod, Legislature, Good Samaritan Hospital, Length of stay, Advertising, Probability, Aggression, Attention, BMJ Quality & Safety, Health, Health services research, Massachusetts health care reform, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hope, Patient, Impulsivity, United States Army Nurse Corps, Observational study, Research, Workforce, Multimedia, MNA, Workforce development, Falmouth Hospital, Question 1, Workplace, Commonwealth, Legislation, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Beth Israel, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, WBUR, COVID-19, Confusion, MHA, American Hospital Association, Risk, Documentation, Medicare, St. Vincent Hospital, Patient safety, Pain, Medicine, Health insurance, Nursing, Safety

BOSTON, Jan. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The more than 25,000 nurses and healthcare professionals of the Massachusetts Nurses Association have joined with allies in the Massachusetts House and Senate to file new legislation that would enact safe patient limits for all hospital units through a process led by the Department of Public Health.

Key Points: 
  • "…fewer nurses likely increase the probability that patients do not feel cared for with an adequate amount of time or attention.
  • That legislation would have funded independent research studies on nurse staffing, the supply of nurses, and measures of care quality.
  • In addition to the new safe patient limits law, the MNA is filing with its legislative sponsors nearly 20 other bills.
  • Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Interwell Health Expands Partnership with Nephrologists in New Government Models of Value-Based Kidney Care

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Social, Hypertension, Kidney disease, Education, Dialysis, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Government, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, KCE, Medicare, CKD, Chronic kidney disease, Patient, Diabetes, Transplant, Physician, Pharmaceutical industry, Health insurance, Medicine

CAMBRIDGE, Mass, Jan. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Interwell Health, a physician-centered organization dedicated to reimagining kidney care, announces a significant expansion of its work in a government value-based care model that aims to improve the lives of people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), with almost 62,000 Medicare beneficiaries now under management through partnerships with more than 1,300 nephrology providers in 26 states.

Key Points: 
  • Interwell Health, a physician-centered organization reimagining kidney care, announces a significant expansion.
  • These partnerships comprise 24 Kidney Contracting Entities (KCEs) within the Kidney Care Choices model, a program developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and first launched at the start of 2022.
  • "Our innovative solutions and close partnerships with physicians are reimagining kidney care and helping patients live their best lives."
  • In order to improve kidney care, Interwell Health supports physician practices by providing personalized patient education, predictive models, customized electronic health record technology, and support from dietitians and social workers.