CMS awards $347 million to help reduce readmissions, hospital-acquired conditions
Through 2019, these networks will work to achieve a 20 percent decrease in overall patient harm and a 12 percent reduction in 30-day readmissions.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has awarded $347 million to 16 organizations including hospital associations, Quality Improvement Organizations and health systems, to support efforts to further reduce hospital-acquired conditions and readmissions.
The Hospital Improvement and Innovation Network contracts that were awarded are intended build on the momentum of the Hospital Engagement Networks and Quality Improvement Organizations in reducing patient harm. It's part of an effort to ensure that the healthcare system "spends our dollars in a smarter way," according to the announcement.
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New goals have been set for the Hospital Improvement and Innovation Networks. Through 2019, these networks will work to achieve a 20 percent decrease in overall patient harm and a 12 percent reduction in 30-day hospital readmissions.
The 16 organizations receiving contracts are Carolinas Healthcare System; Dignity Health; Healthcare Association of New York State; HealthInsight; The Health Research and Educational Trust of the American Hospital Association; Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey; Health Services Advisory Group; The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania; Iowa Healthcare Collaborative; Michigan Health and Hospital Association Health Foundation; Minnesota Hospital Association; Ohio Children's Hospitals' Solutions for Patient Safety; Ohio Hospital Association; Premier; Vizient; and the Washington State Hospital Association.
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Hospital Improvement and Innovation Networks will also work to expand and develop learning collaboratives for hospitals, and provide initiatives to improve patient safety in the Medicare program. They will be required to address a wide variety of topics, including adverse drug events, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, sepsis and septic shock and injury from falls and immobility.
CMS said it will evaluate the activities of the Hospital Improvement and Innovation Networks to ensure that they are generating the intended results.
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