HHS funds projects in 25 states to try to lower Medicaid costs, improve care

The first wave of grants, totaling $300 million, were announced Thursday and included Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and Vermont.

Reuters: U.S. Funds 25 States To Test New Medicaid Models
The Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday that it would provide 25 of the 50 states with funding to test new ways to lower costs and improve care within the national Medicaid program for the poor. The first states to receive State Innovation Model awards are Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and Vermont, which will implement plans to transform their health care delivery system under President Barack Obama's health care reform law, which sets aside $300 million for the overall venture (2/21).

Modern Healthcare: $300M To Boost Medicaid, CHIP Innovation
Six states were awarded nearly $300 million by HHS to implement payment and delivery changes to their Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program plans. The State Innovation Model awards, which were authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will fund Medicaid pilot programs in Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and Vermont that aim to improve care quality and lower costs. "As a former governor, I understand the real sense of urgency that states feel to improve the health of their populations while also reducing total health care costs, and it's critical that the many elements of health care in each state -- including Medicaid, public health, and workforce training -- work together," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a news release. The CMS will track the efficacy of those pilot programs for possible wider implementation nationwide (Daly, 2/21).

Bloomberg: States Receive $300 Million From U.S. To Trim Health Costs
Arkansas, Maine and Oregon are among 25 states that will split as much as $300 million from the federal government to test new ways to pay for medical care in an experiment funded by the 2010 health care law. The three states, plus Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Vermont will get most of the money, or about $250 million, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said today in a statement (2/21).