“We are committed to partnering with states to advance the goals we all share: better care, smarter spending, and, ultimately, healthier people,” said Secretary Burwell. “These funds will support states in integrating and coordinating the many elements of health care—including Medicaid, Medicare, public health, and private health care delivery systems—to the benefit of patients, businesses, and taxpayers alike.”

The State Innovation Models initiative supports states in planning or implementing a customized, fully developed proposal capable of improving care statewide.

Example initiatives in the past have included focusing on improving primary care through patient-centered medical homes, building upon current Accountable Care Organization models, as well as integrating primary care and behavioral health sciences.

Other initiatives have included providing technical assistance and data to health care providers; creating unified quality measure score cards; expanding the adoption of health information technology; strengthening the health care workforce via training and education programs; and fostering partnerships among public and primary health care providers.

This week’s awards include both states that are designing plans and strategies for statewide innovation and states that are taking the next steps from designing to testing and implementing comprehensive statewide health transformation plans.

Over $622 million in State Innovation Model Test Awards will support 11 states—Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Washington—in implementing their State Health Care Innovation Plans.

These states join six previous round one Model Test awardees: Arkansas, Main, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and Vermont.

Nearly $43 million in State Innovation Model Design Awards will support 17 states, three territories and D.C. to create and refine proposals for comprehensive health care transformation.

States will engage a broad group of stakeholders including health care providers and systems, long-term service and support providers, commercial payers, state hospital and medical associations, tribal communities and consumer advocacy organizations.

Transformation efforts supported by this initiative must improve health, care and lower costs for Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program beneficiaries.

“States are laboratories of innovation and serve as critical partners in transforming health care,” said Patrick Conway, M.D., CMS deputy administrator for innovation and quality and chief medical officer.

“States are large health care purchasers for their employees and residents, have broad regulatory authority over health care providers and payers, have the ability to convene multiple parties to improve statewide health delivery systems, and oversee public health, social, and educational services,” Conway added. “Partnering with states on health innovation has the potential to accelerate and transform health innovation in all of these areas.”

Together with awards released in 2013, more than half of states (34 states and three territories along with the District of Columbia), representing nearly two-thirds of the population are participating in efforts to support comprehensive state-based innovation in health system transformation aimed at finding new and innovative ways to improve quality and lower costs, HHS said.

Written by Jason Oliva

A new smartphone app from Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG) allows seniors who are living independently at home to receive the benefits and services of a remote medical alert system, without the necessity of having to wear a device.

Offering a direct connection to Philips’ U.S.-based call center, the mobile Lifeline response app allows smartphone-enabled seniors and their families to speak directly to trained personnel, even if it is for non-emergencies.

The app uses functionalities built into the smartphone devices that can help locate users in efforts to better ensure that help is directed to the right location, wether someone is using it to call a loved one or even the helping hands of a nearby neighbor.

Designed for independent seniors, the Philips Lifeline app also allows individuals to receive the benefits of the call center without having to wear a medical alert device—a critical component to the technology, especially as 96% of seniors said they want to be as independent as possible as they get older, according to a survey by Philips and the Global Social Enterprise Initiative at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

“Today’s seniors are active and they deserve a mobile solution that affords them the freedom to go and do as they please while being safe,” said Philips Lifeline General Manager Kimberly O’Loughlin in a written statement. “We’re excited to offer seniors an app that allows them to take our trusted service with them and experience life to the fullest, without the worry of getting help should they need it.”

The app, which is free to download, is currently available in the U.S. via the Apple Store and Android Market, and joins other technologies Philips has dedicated to the senior care space, including its Community WIthout Walls, CarePartners Mobile, the HomeSafe Wireless System and the AutoAlert fall detection products.

If users choose, they may elect to pay month-to-month for the service provided through Philips Lifeline.

Written by Jason Oliva

Fall-related injuries continue to plague the aging population, but a new five-year, $30 million study is in the works to provide seniors with plans to help prevent one of the most common problems affecting them.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) will conduct a nationwide study of the “effectiveness of a multi-pronged strategy that includes deploying nurses or nurse practitioners trained as ‘falls care managers.’”

Roughly one in every three adults over age 65 suffer moderate to severe injuries from falls, which can lead to declines in health and loss of independence, the release states.

“One of the keys to innovative scientific research is the ability to collaborate in creative and dynamic ways,” NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D., stated in the release. “This unique collaboration between NIH and PCORI builds on the strengths of our respective organizations. We hope this partnership will translate into real strides in preventing falls and their resulting injuries in older people.”

Some of the country’s leading geriatric experts will spearhead the study in collaboration with seniors and family caregivers. Falls care managers will develop and deliver evidence-based prevention plans individually tailored to each of the 6,000 adults in the trial, monitoring the patients’ outcomes and coordinating with their primary care providers. The rate of fall-related injuries among the study’s participants will then be compared to the injury rate among similar patients who receive only risk assessments and educational material from physicians.

The patient-centered approach aims to reduce the rates of fall-related injuries among non-institutionalized seniors.

“We cannot eliminate falls altogether, but we know that many fall-related injuries are preventable through good, evidence-based interventions,” PCORI Executive Director Joe Selby, M.D., M.P.H., stated in the release. “What’s lacking is evidence on the optimal combination of interventions to meet patients’ individual needs and circumstances and how best to deliver tailored plans.

Written by Emily Study