Despite tremendous national interest, the new CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has funded only seven applicants to date under its new Care Transitions project. While CMS will not say how many applications they received and rejected in the first round, or how many are pending review, information is slowly coming to light about the funded projects. For entities still looking to apply – and CMMI is clear that they continue to want applicants!! – the information is potentially instructive.
One of the funded sites – in Greater Cincinnati – shared on the Medicaring blog (hosted by the non profit Altarum Institute) that they plan to serve about 5400 beneficiaries and save about $1 million using what they call a “modified Coleman Model.” The same blog in a slightly earlier post ran an interesting piece on developing a “blended” per person rate as required by the Section 3026 budget worksheet.
Those who want more detail on what has been funded, can find a summary of projects on the CMS Care Transitions project website. Two threads common to all projects and stressed on a call with awardees has been that 1) funded sites have some care transitions experience with a specific model and 2) multiple hospital partners are involved. In the case of the latter, CMS wants to see actual agreements in place, not just letters of support.
Think Home Care Blog 