header
Follow Us
In This Issue
Let's Stand Up for Being Fiscally Responsible and Humane
CIVHC Convenes Innovation Challenge Applicants
Why Focus on Palliative Care to Achieve Triple Aim?
Filling a Void - EMS Providers Step Up to Address Community Health Care Needs
CPCI - July 20th Practice Application Deadline
Phil Kalin Joins National Health Data Consortium Board
CIVHC Connect Meetings July 10th/18th
Bundled Payments Webinar July 17
CIVHC is Hiring!
   
CIVHC In the News

States Give Mixed Reviews to Health Care Ruling

 

The Hidden Tax of Not Everyone Having Insurance

 

Why Can't MA Do This?

 

Colorado Health-Care Database Wins Big Foundation Grants

Articles We're Tweeting

Don Berwick's "To Isaiah" Speech

 

Progress Towards Value-based Care 

 

Billions at Play Over Health Care Law

 

Improving Care & Cost at End of Life

 

ACO Increase Shows Need for Reform

 

Low Growth In Health Care Spending Anticipated 

fiscallyresponsibleStanding Up for Being Fiscally Responsible and Humane
By Phil Kalin, CIVHC President & CEO
Phil KalinIn grad school, our cigar chomping chairman of the department would explode with a resounding Horse Sh#@t whenever somebody gave an answer that wasn't well thought out, supported by facts or was just plain wrong. Get it wrong on all three counts and his cigar would fly across the room at about the same speed as his expletive. It got your attention.

 

As I held my breath waiting for the Supreme Court decision, and fearing the Accountable Care Act (ACA) would be overturned, I reflected on the times when I could have responded with my professor's epithet when facts were being ignored or willfully misconstrued. It wouldn't have changed a thing but would have felt good for the moment.

 

Over the few days prior to the decision, I reflected on all the times I was so very "politically correct" in responding to criticisms of the ACA...despite knowing that they were not based in fact or were just pure politics. Instead, I would generally tiptoe my way into a response by acknowledging that the legislation wasn't perfect, didn't do enough to control costs etc...all before getting into the many things that the ACA gets right... 

 Read more...

InnovationChallengeCIVHC Convenes Innovation Challenge Applicants with Foundation, Payers to Leverage Triple Aim Projects
By Edie Sonn, CIVHC Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
Edie SonnThe spirit of innovation is alive and well in Colorado health care. And, even as providers, patient advocates and health plans respond to local needs, they're identifying many of the same problems. Even more striking: they agree that the changes they need to make to improve health, improve care and control costs can't be done without radically transforming the way we pay for health care.

  

These are some of the key points that emerged from two recent meetings CIVHC convened with organizations from around the state that applied for the Health Care Innovation Challenge. This program, funded through the Affordable Care Act by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, provides three-year awards of up to $30 million to health care delivery redesign initiatives...

 Read more...

WhyfocusonPalliativeCareWhy Focus on Palliative Care to Achieve Triple Aim? Part II in a Series of FAQs
By Jenny Nate, CIVHC Director of Policy and Planning
Jenny Nate

Considering the fact that CIVHC 's expansive charge is to improve the quality of care and bend the cost curve for health care across the state of Colorado, many people wonder why CIVHC has committed to an effort so specific as improving access to high quality palliative care, especially at such an early stage in our organization's development. Perhaps an organization such as CIVHC should be more focused on "big picture" issues in Colorado, by identifying where we have the greatest opportunities to impact the quality and cost of care for the largest segments of our population. In 2008, the members of CIVHC's planning committee took on that exercise, and identified palliative care as one of those opportunities.

CommParamFilling a Void - EMS Providers Step Up To Address Community Health Care Needs
By Cari Frank, CIVHC Director of Communications

Cari FrankLast month I had the pleasure of representing CIVHC at the International Roundtable for Community Paramedics (IRCP) conference in Vancouver, Canada. My friends and family were a bit surprised (and somewhat jealous!) to learn I was travelling out of the country for a conference. I explained that CIVHC identifies and promotes innovative solutions to address Colorado's health care crisis, and the IRCP is the only conference that focuses exclusively on the up and coming community paramedic model. Community paramedic programs, although relatively new to the US, have proven successful in improving health and saving costs, and CIVHC is identifying how this model might fill gaps across Colorado.

CPCIComprehensive Primary Care Initiative - July 20th Deadline to Apply
PCMH image

Practices interested in participating in the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPCI) in Colorado, must apply by July 20th, 2012Any rumors about a deadline extension are false - the July 20 deadline stands. As of last week, 180 Colorado practices had successfully completed the pre-screening tool and 85 applications were in process. It's taking most practices at least an hour to complete the application, and some do have questions and need assistance, so please file early!

  

The first step in the application process is to complete the Application Pre-Screening Tool. Upon completion, practices meeting the minimum requirements will receive an email with further application instructions. The Primary Care Practice Solicitation document describes the eligibility and selection criteria. Please note that the feature to add letters of support has been removed from the CMS website and is therefore not a requirement.

 

Please email us with any questions you have or difficulties you encounter, and we'll be sure to get you timely information from the CPCI team. Be sure to check CIVHC's website for the latest CPCI information and answers to your questions about the program. 

HDCAdvisoryBoardPhil Kalin Joins National Health Data Consortium Advisory Board 
Health Data Consortium logoPhil Kalin, CIVHC CEO and President, has accepted a position on the advisory board for the "still new" national Health Data Consortium (HDC).The Consortium advocates for making public data sources available to help achieve Triple Aim objectives. As an advisory board member, Kalin will provide insights and lessons learned from years of expertise in health care and IT to help the Consortium develop meaningful tools to improve health and contain costs.  

Read more...

CIVHCConnectCIVHC Connect Meetings July 10th/18th: Care Transitions and Palliative Care 
CIVHC Connect meeting

CIVHC holds quarterly "CIVHC Connect" meetings to inform and engage stakeholders and interested parties about the status of our statewide initiatives. The next CIVHC Connect is dedicated to our Health Care Delivery System Redesign efforts specific to Care Transitions and Palliative Care. Don't miss this opportunity to learn what's happening across Colorado to reach the Triple Aim through coordinated, patient-centered delivery systems. The meeting will be offered twice for convenience - July 10th 2-4pm (COPIC Founders Board Room) and again on July 18th 2-4pm (The Colorado Trust Sabin Room). 

 

Register today (in-person space is limited):

July 10th- Webinar Registration or In-person RSVP

July 18th- Webinar Registration or In-person RSVP

BundledPaymentBundled Payments Webinar - Resources and Legal Considerations for Colorado Providers - July 17th, 12:30-2:00 pm MT

Bundled Payment graphicAs part of CIVHC's efforts to enable coordinated health care delivery approaches that reward value rather than volume, we're offering Colorado providers a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of how to implement bundled payments for health care services.
 

More Information...

 

CIVHCHiringCIVHC Is Hiring! Chief Medical Officer and Director of the All Payer Claims Database Positions Available

CIVHC is looking for two new positions to join our team: a part-time CMO and a full-time Director of the All Payer Claims Database. Please visit our website for full job descriptions and information on how to apply.

The Center for Improving Value in Health Care is a non-profit, collaborative organization supporting the Triple Aim for health care: improving health, increasing quality and containing costs. We would like to thank The Colorado Trust, Colorado Health Foundation, Rose Community Foundation and Caring for Colorado for providing funding to support our organization and initiatives.