Five-hundred community health centers will receive approximately $42 million over three years to improve the coordination and quality of care under the new Advanced Primary Care Practice demonstration, according to an HHS news release.
Under the demonstration, which will run from Nov. 1, 2011-Oct. 31, 2014, participating health centers will be paid a monthly fee for each eligible Medicare beneficiary that receives primary care services. This improved payment system, which will be based on quality of care, will reward clinics for such things as helping patients manage chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Health centers will also use this funding to expand their hours, make same-day appointments and accommodate patients with urgent care needs.
In addition, CMS' Innovation Center will conduct an independent evaluation of the demonstration to study the process and challenges involved in transforming community health centers into advanced primary care practices. The evaluation will assess the project's impact on hospital admission rates, emergency department visits rates, access, quality and cost of care.
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Under the demonstration, which will run from Nov. 1, 2011-Oct. 31, 2014, participating health centers will be paid a monthly fee for each eligible Medicare beneficiary that receives primary care services. This improved payment system, which will be based on quality of care, will reward clinics for such things as helping patients manage chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Health centers will also use this funding to expand their hours, make same-day appointments and accommodate patients with urgent care needs.
In addition, CMS' Innovation Center will conduct an independent evaluation of the demonstration to study the process and challenges involved in transforming community health centers into advanced primary care practices. The evaluation will assess the project's impact on hospital admission rates, emergency department visits rates, access, quality and cost of care.
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