L.A. Care Receives Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative Award

Collaborative network will join federal government and other partners in supporting large-scale health care transformation among clinician practices

Los Angeles, CA – L.A. Care Health Plan is one of 39 health care collaborative networks selected to participate in the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative, announced today by Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. L.A. Care will receive up to $15.8 million over four years to provide technical assistance support to help equip clinicians in Los Angeles County with tools, information, and network support needed to improve quality of care, increase patients’ access to information, and spend health care dollars more wisely.

“Supporting doctors and other health care professionals to change the way they work is critical to improving quality and spending our health care dollars more wisely,” said Secretary Burwell. “These awards will give patients more of the information they need to make informed decisions about their care and give clinicians access to information and support to improve care coordination and quality outcomes.” 

As a Practice Transformation Network, L.A. Care will support 3,100 clinicians to expand their quality improvement capacity, learn from one another, and achieve common goals of improved care, better health, and reduced cost. The network will provide onsite and remote support to help clinicians improve care for patients with diabetes and/or depression at high risk for hospitalization, optimize transitions to community care settings after acute hospitalization, increase frequency of medication reconciliation, and improve patient medication education and management in all care settings. The assistance will focus on helping participating clinicians meet the initiative’s phases of transformation and associated milestones, clinical and operational results.

These awards are part of a comprehensive strategy advanced by the Affordable Care Act that enables new levels of coordination, continuity, and integration of care, while transitioning volume-driven systems to value-based, patient-centered, health care services. It builds upon successful models and programs such as the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Organization Program, Partnership for Patients with Hospital Engagement Networks, and Accountable Care Organizations.

For more information on the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative, please visit: http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/Transforming-Clinical-Practices/