CMS' Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has launched 12 initiatives—from ACOs to primary care projects—that are reshaping how people think about the U.S. health care system, Charles Fiegl writes in American Medical News.
The federal health reform law allotted $10 billion to the center—which was launched in November 2010—to help it test payment and service delivery models that aim to reduce spending and boost care quality. A recent Commonwealth Fund report outlined the CMMI's achievements over the past year, highlighting a dozen initiatives that have helped the health care industry move toward more coordinated, integrated care.
The programs include alternative payment model programs that helped establish patient-centered medical homes, ACOs, and mentorship programs. In addition, the center launched the comprehensive primary care initiative, the federally qualified health center advanced primary care demonstration, and the multipayer primary care initiative.
According to Stuart Guterman, co-author of the study, the center likely will continue to develop these projects while launching new initiatives. "This process isn't discrete, it's going to be continuous," he said.
Meanwhile, American Medical Association President Peter Carmel said, "The CMMI is an important entity that supports the testing and development of innovative new payment and delivery models to improve care and lower health care costs." He added, "The CMMI has launched several initiatives that will provide resources for promising physician-led projects that may otherwise lack the resources and infrastructure necessary to get off the ground" (Fiegl, American Medical News, 12/15).
