Grants and Demonstrations
The ACA provides funding opportunities to transform how health care is delivered, expand access to care and support healthcare workforce training.
Grant Announcements
10/17/11 CMS announced the Innovation Advisors Program through the Innovation Center under §3021 of the ACA. The program is designed to engage healthcare professionals to drive delivery system reform by improving patient care and reducing costs. In the first year 200 fellowships of $20,000 each are available to eligible applicants, allied health professionals, and health administrators.
Applications are due November 15, 2011.
The announcement can be viewed at: CMS Innovation Advisors Homepage.
News
10/17/11 The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) appointed Dr. Anne C. Beal, M.D., M.P.H. as its first chief operating officer. She joins PCORI from the Aetna Foundation where she recently served as President. PCORI was created by Congress under §6301 of the ACA as an independent, non-profit research organization to help patients and those who care for them make informed health decisions. PCORI is tasked with conducting patient-centered outcomes research to provide information about the best available evidence to help patients and their health care providers make more informed decisions. PCORI's research is intended to give patients a better understanding of the prevention, treatment and care options available, and the science that supports those options. PCORI is governed by a 21-member Board of Governors. Beal will be responsible for ensuring PCORI has the structure and capacity needed to carry out its mission as the nation's largest research institute focused on patient-centered outcomes research. Beal is a pediatrician and public health specialist, who has been committed to using research in her career to improve health care delivery, quality of care, and health disparities.
Read more at: http://www.pcori.org/
10/14/11 HHS announced that they will no longer try to implement the CLASS program, which was created under §8001, §8002 of the ACA, to provide long-term care insurance. Known as Community Living Assistance Services and Supports, or CLASS, the program would have provided daily benefits for people with chronic illness or disabilities if they've paid monthly premiums for at least five years. The program was intended for people who wanted to live in the community, though benefits could also have been used to help pay for nursing home care or assisted living. It would have been financed with premiums paid by workers, through voluntary payroll deductions, with no federal subsidy. Premiums were supposed to have ensured the solvency of the program over 75 years. The announcement came after HHS completed a report which looked at the financial sustainability of the program and found that the program was too costly and would not work. One challenge is, because the CLASS program is voluntary, perhaps only people who need the benefit could enroll which would increase the cost of the premiums. Secretary Sebelius said she agreed with the actuaries who thought not enough young and healthy people would enroll which would have led to a cycle of higher premiums, and lower enrollment.
Read Secretary Sebelius' letter to Congress at: http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/letter10142011.html
Read the Secretary's blog at:
http://www.healthcare.gov/blog/2011/10/class10142011.html
Read the full HHS report at:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/2011/class/index.shtml
10/13/11 HHS announced a record number of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) members. Through §5207 the ACA, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and annual appropriations, NHSC has awarded approximately $900 million in scholarships and loan repayment to health care professions including medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health care providers. These professionals serve areas of the United States with limited access to care. Currently, there are 404 sites in Massachusetts that are approved sites for NHSC members to practice.
For more information, visit: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/10/20111013a.html
EOHHS News
9/26/11 Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute (MMPI) and EOHHS hosted an event to present data on dual eligible population, including demographics, health services use, and spending. The analysis was a collaborative effort between MMPI, the BD Group and EOHHS.
View the materials from the meeting at: http://bluecrossfoundation.org/~/media/MMPI/Files/MMPI%20Duals%20Chart%20Pack.pdf
9/27/11 EOHHS held a Consumer Focused meeting on the MassHealth Demonstration to Integrate Medicare and Medicaid for Dual Eligible Individuals. At the meeting, EOHHS and attendees discussed financing options for the demonstration offered by CMS, and draft principles regarding the enrollment process and the role of community organizations in the demonstration.
View the materials from the meeting at: http://www.mass.gov/masshealth/duals under "Materials from Previous Meetings."
9/30/11 EOHHS submitted a Letter of Intent to CMS to pursue a capitated, three-way contract model for our initiative to integrate care for dual eligibles ages 21-64. This was one of two financial alignment options offered by CMS in a letter to State Medicaid Directors in July 2011. EOHHS also submitted a second Letter of Intent expressing our interest in exploring returning the Senior Care Options (SCO) program to a capitated three-way contract. This will allow for more streamlined financial and administrative processes for the SCOs. SCO is not part of the Duals Demonstration.
View the letters at http://www.mass.gov/masshealth/duals under "Related Information."
Upcoming Events
Money Follows the Person (MFP) Working Group
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 from 10:30 AM - 12 PM
Saxe Conference Room
Worcester Public Library
3 Salem Square
Worcester, MA
MFP Housing Topical Discussion Group
Monday, October 24th, 2011 from 1:30 PM - 3 PM
Wellesley Public Library, Wakelin Room
530 Washington Street, Wellesley
Please contact Kate.Russell@state.ma.us if you would like to attend the meetings.
Requests for reasonable accommodations should be sent to MFP@state.ma.us. Although an RSVP is not required, it is appreciated. More information on MFP can be found at: MFP Information
The meeting date and time of the next Quarterly Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Stakeholder Implementation Meeting will be posted on the website at: http://mass.gov/national health reform under Quarterly Stakeholder Meetings as soon as it is scheduled.
