HHS Makes Available $500 Million To Help Improve Patient Care

On Wednesday, HHS announced that up to $500 million in federal health reform law funds will be available to help health organizations improve care quality, prevent complications related to hospital-acquired infections, and reduce unnecessary readmissions, The Hill's "Healthwatch" reports

The funds are part of the Partnership for Patients, a $1 billion initiative that targets hospital performance (Pecquet, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 6/22).

Announced in April, the partnership aims to reduce preventable injuries by 40% and cut hospital readmissions by 20% by 2013 (California Healthline, 4/13).

To support hospital efforts to redesign care processes and reduce patient harm, the partnership is contracting with large health systems, associations, state organizations, and other stakeholders to support hospitals. These "hospital engagement contractors" will:

• Design programs to teach and assist hospitals in improving care;
• Train hospitals and health care providers;
• Provide technical help for hospitals and providers; and
• Create and implement a system to monitor a hospital's progress ("Healthwatch," The Hill, 6/22).

CMS also will work with other contractors to improve patient safety. For example, the agency will collaborate with patients and families to determine ways to improve safety and patient transfers (CMS release, 6/22).