HHS on Thursday announced that it will provide about $275 million from the healthcare reform law in a competitive program for states to design and test multi-payer payment and delivery models.
Called the State Innovation Models Initiative, the program from the CMS Innovation Center will provide up to $50 million for up to 25 states in “model design awards” and up to $225 million over three to four years for up to five states in “model testing awards.”
In the first, states must produce and submit a state healthcare innovation plan that describes a state's program to transform its healthcare delivery system into one that delivers care according to an integrated-care strategy that is led by the community. A potential second round of funding is targeted for spring of 2013.