In This Issue:
- Obama Administration Ramps up Efforts to Reduce Medicaid Spending
- Senators Press Gilead on Sovaldi
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives
- Other Congressional and State Initiatives
- Other Health Care News
- Upcoming Hearings and Markups
- Excerpt from Obama Administration Ramps up Efforts to Reduce Medicaid Spending:
This morning, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced up to $100 million in new funding for a new technical assistance initiative called the “Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program” (IAP). The IAP was developed, in-part, to assist states that have thus far been unable to build the capabilities to implement various delivery/payment reforms. States that could benefit from this initiative could include those who were unable to participate in the testing phase of the State Innovation Models initiative launched two years ago.
The IAP will develop resources to support innovation through four key functions: 1) identifying new models of care delivery and payment; 2) leveraging data analytics; 3) improving and aligning quality measurement; and 4) advancing effective learning and dissemination strategies. The IAP’s focus areas were developed with input from states, including the National Governor’s Health Care Sustainability Task Force, and surveys of states participating in the State Innovation Models initiative. Because the IAP is not a formal grant program, CMS is not anticipating limiting the number of states who will be able to take advantage of the technical assistance tools; however, prioritization of resources will be determined by input from states and other health care stakeholders.
Please see full publication below for more information.