Friday, May 3, 2024
5/3/2024
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is applying to participate as the lead organization in the Community Transformation Track of the CHART Model offered by the CMMI. UAB is located in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to the academic core, it includes a healthcare enterprise, UAB Health System, a $5 billion organization with responsibility for UAB Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in the nation. It also includes 14+ hospitals across Alabama under various management and affiliation arrangements. UAB has experience in managing health-related grants and has advanced knowledge within the healthcare arena. Many of the awarded grants have specifically focused on health disparities and access issues in rural communities including the NIH funded Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal (RURAL) Study and the HRSA funded Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience (CU2RE). The size, scope, and standing in the state of Alabama makes UAB and its healthcare entities a prime candidate for leading this model in Alabama. Alabama is a state with 54 rural counties and 47 rural hospitals. An estimated 1.1 million residents live in these rural counties. In order to maximize this opportunity for rural hospitals, the service area proposed in this application incorporates all of these rural counties as the community. At the time of this writing, approximately ten eligible hospitals have signed a non-binding letter of intent to participate. As more information is made known regarding the model criteria and the financing mechanisms beyond baseline capitation rates and how those rates are projected for the out years, we anticipate that additional hospitals will likely express interest in participating. The goals proposed in the transformation plan are consistent with the goals of this model. UAB with its component parts in conjunction with the State Medicaid Agency (SMA) will work with participating hospitals and the Advisory Council to implement an alternative payment model designed to improve financial stability for hospitals as well as improve access and outcomes for members of the community. Central tenets of the transformation plan are: "Reliance on capitated revenues for financial stability. "Wide-spread adoption of ambulatory telemedicine for specialty and subspecialty care with an emphasis on mental and behavioral health. "Development of care management strategies to help patients get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. "Identifying solutions for certain social determinants of health such as transportation in extremely rural communities. "Managing at least the 6 quality measures defined by CMMI. The proposed budget to accomplish these goals is set at $4,912,000. These funds will be used primarily to leverage the expertise and experience brought to the project by the leaders enlisted to support UAB and SMA as the recipient and subrecipient of the cooperative agreement. These roles include leadership, grants management, telemedicine, care management, quality management, practice transformation, strategic planning, and reimbursement specialists. Most rural hospitals have some or minimal experience in these areas. UAB will be able to guide participating hospitals in transformation activities that will support the successful implementation of the objectives of the CHART Model Community Transformation Track.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
