HHS Announces Recipients for Second Round of Health Care Innovation Awards Funding

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has selected 12 prospective projects to receive as much as $110 million in combined funding over a three-year period to test innovative care models designed to deliver better outcomes and lower costs, according to a May 22, 2014, HHS press release. These 12 projects represent the first batch of prospective funding recipients for round two of the Health Care Innovation Awards program, which focuses on four priority areas: rapidly reducing costs for patients with Medicare and Medicaid; improving care for populations with specialized needs; testing improved financial and clinical models for specific types of providers, including specialists; and linking clinical care delivery to preventive and population health. The announced recipients will test care models in 13 states, addressing all four priority areas, including projects aimed at providing better care for people with dementia.