CMS solicits advancements, interventions in care delivery through Special Innovation Projects

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services wants to improve care delivery and is open to suggestion on how to accomplish that.

CMS' Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program announced it will offer 28 Special Innovation Project (SIP) awards totaling $8 million.

Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs) can collaborate with healthcare providers and/or partners to submit ideas for one of two categories:

• "Innovations that advance local efforts for better care and smarter spending," to address healthcare quality issues occurring within specific QIN-QIO regions.
• "Interventions that are ripe for spread and scalability," for a quality improvement project with proven but limited success.

CMS is seeking projects designed to streamline patient flow, offer an integrated approach to post-acute care, increase value and affordability of specialty drugs, address acute pain management and incorporate predictive analytics prevent harm.

SIPs are two-year quality improvement projects that align with the goals of the CMS Quality Strategy. Statements of Objectives will be released in early April to the QIO community along with information about award dates.

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.