Tuesday, April 22, 2008

CMS ER Grant to improve access to primary care

DENVER – April 22, 2008 – The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing announced today that it has received $1,816,100 for two projects from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Centers to improve access to primary medical care to Medicaid clients to avoid improper use of costly emergency room visits. 

Valley-Wide Health Services will receive $890,000 for a two-year period to increase operational hours to provide primary care alternatives during hours when the emergency room is the only option.

Peak Visa Community Health Centers and Memorial Health System will receive $926,100 for a two-year period to establish an effective referral program for Medicaid clients seeking non-emergency services.

"Diverting Medicaid clients with non-emergent conditions from the emergency rooms to out-patient centers is the right direction towards decreasing the costs of health care, and connecting people to a Medical home," says Joan Henneberry, executive director of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. "Governor Ritter's Building Blocks to Health Care Reform plan addresses all three legs of the health care stool - managing costs, improving quality, and expanding access to care.  This funding will allow Colorado to tackle all three."