State Innovation Model  (SIM) Updates March 2017

March 12, 2017

 
The Colorado State Innovation Model released its applicationfor practices to join a community of healthcare innovators, who are integrating behavioral health and primary care. There are 878 SIM providers who are moving along a spectrum of integration to deliver whole-person care to approximately 321,713 attributed patients.
A survey of SIM cohort 1 shows that 82% of respondents would recommend participation in SIM and we hope you will join them and encourage practice professionals to apply for cohort 2before the March 31 deadline. 
Apply for SIM cohort 2
 
The SIM office has released the application for practices to participate in the second cohort of the program, and encourages practices to apply today: bit.ly/2kUdsHe

Cohort 2 resources:

Intro to behavioral health for primary care

Six new SIM e-learning modules have been released for cohort 1 practices. These modules, which were developed by the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine, take 30 minutes to an hour to complete and are eligible for continuing education credits.

 

SIM Practice Data Reporting Update

  • We have data to share from SIM cohort-1 practices that have reported on clinical quality measures (CQMs) for a full year. The SIM initiative helps practices report and use data to ensure delivery of high-quality patient care and improved patient outcomes. Click here for more information and check back regularly for data updates. 
Sharing behavioral health info.
 
The SIM policy workgroup hosted the first in a series of webinars about how providers who deliver integrated behavioral health and primary care share appropriate behavioral health information to deliver coordinated, high-quality healthcare. Speakers addressed 42CFR part 2, legislation intended to safeguard the confidentiality of substance use disorder information and answered questions about how they handle adolescent health information. 
Listen to this recorded discussion with Toria Thompson, behavioral health information exchange coordinator, CORHIO; Shannon Tyson-Poletti, MD, assistant medical director, Jefferson Center for Mental Health; Kyle Knierim, MD, assistant professor, University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine, Associate Director of Practice Transformation. 
Who's ready for APMs?
 
While there is much talk about value-based payment for healthcare services, also called alternative payment models (APMs), the SIM initiative provides resources to help its cohort practices succeed as these models become more pervasive.
 
A total of 270 practices in the state are participating in these APMs, according to the "Colorado MACRA Readiness Report" produced by Milliman and funded by SIM. The report lists the different initiatives, including SIM, Comprehensive Primary Care Plus, and the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative, which is recruiting practices.
 
SIM is hiring - Apply today 
 
We are looking for motivated and experienced individuals to join our team. Click here to view all open job postings and apply before the deadline to be considered for one of these three positions.
 
Join your colleagues, policy makers and organization/agency staff for a Medical Home Community Forum that focuses on new approaches with integrated care for women and young children in pediatric settings March 14 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Building A, DOC Room, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver CO 80246. Learn more and RSVP.
Improve business functions, 
patient care

 
Learn how Lean and Six Sigma manufacturing principles can help you evaluate and improve business functions and patient care in your practice March 15 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Click here to learn more
QPP 'Coffee Talk'
 
Please join Telligen March 9 for an overview of the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Improvement Activity Category requirements and share tips to successfully implement an activity in your practice. Speakers will share information about the Telligen Antibiotic Stewardship program and will dedicate the last half hour to answering questions about the QPP. Learn more and RSVP.
Suggested articles and media:
New study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that compares Colorado's Accountable Care Collaborative program and Oregon's Coordinated Care Organization models.
Driven by opportunities to improve care coordination and reduce avoidable costs, state and federal policymakers are taking steps to integrate medical and behavioral health services and improve health outcomes. Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc.


Rocky Mountain Health Plans - UnitedHealthCare merger finalized
The merger between UnitedHealthcare and Western Slope insurance provider Rocky Mountain Health Plans officially closed on Thursday, March 2, 2017. Read more about the merger from The Denver Post.
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