Some Stakeholders Skeptical of CMMI’s Ability To Promote Change

Some stakeholders are questioning the ability of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to effectively make changes to the broader health care system, Kaiser Health News/Washington Post reports (Hancock, Kaiser Health News/Washington Post, 8/10).

Background

Under the Affordable Care Act, CMMI received $10 billion to develop and test new health care delivery models that aim to boost quality and lower costs (California Healthline, 3/22/13). CMMI has allocated more than $2 billion to hundreds of groups since 2011, according to KHN/Post. HHS has the authority to expand CMMI innovations that are successful without congressional approval.

Questions About CMMI's Effectiveness

However, some have questioned CMMI's effectiveness.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said, "While I certainly appreciate innovation in the delivery of health care, the CMMI is just another big government bureaucracy created by Obamacare that costs billions and duplicates other efforts."

Further, Milbank Memorial Fund President Christopher Koller said that while attempting to change health care delivery systems is essential, "the jury is still out" as to whether CMMI is the best means to achieve such changes.

Others question whether CMMI's level of funding is sufficient to meet the need for further innovation.

Ezekiel Emanuel -- a former White House adviser on health policy who helped push to include CMMI in the ACA -- said that the amount of money is "like a drop in the bucket -- a cynic would say a low level of investment."

Supporters contend that that CMMI eventually will save the federal government far more than the center's $10 billion budget.

CMMI Director Patrick Conway pointed to the pioneer accountable care organizations program -- which saved $147 million in its first year and is expected to save money again next year -- as an example of the CMMI's early successes (Kaiser Health News/Washington Post, 8/10).