LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 13, 2016) — The University of Kentucky is partnering with the Indiana University School of Medicine in a $46 million grant-funded initiative with the aim of improving healthcare while lowering costs. UK will receive $4.6 million in funding to lead the Kentucky arm of a four-state quality improvement effort funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Great Lakes Practice Transformation Network (GLPTN) trains and deploys “quality improvement advisors” to transform the way over 10 million patients are cared for by more than 15,500 medical professionals throughout Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky.
The network is a collaboration among nearly three dozen university and state-connected partners designed to reduce unnecessary visits and testing, while potentially saving $1 billion.
The network will provide technical assistance to equip approximately 1,875 Kentucky clinicians with tools, information, and network support needed to improve quality of care, increase patients’ access to information, and spend healthcare dollars more wisely.
“Changes in reimbursement by Medicare and Medicaid are affecting frontline physicians, administrators and health care leaders in new ways,” said Dr. Malaz Boustani, principal investigator of GLPTN. “We are pleased to have the University of Kentucky on board to provide dedicated support to health care professionals across Kentucky to improve the quality and value of healthcare.”
As a member of the Great Lakes Practice Transformation Network, UK’s Kentucky Regional Extension Center and partners will support more than 15,500 clinicians to expand their quality improvement capacity, learn from one another, and achieve the common goals of improved care, better health, and reduced cost. The network will provide implementation science, process improvement and personalized population health management to help participating clinicians meet the initiative’s phases of transformation and associated milestones.
“This work showcases the leadership and innovation of our research and will support Kentucky’s health care providers to remain on the frontline of the changes ahead in health care,” said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK executive vice president for health affairs. “It will allow us to improve patient care and outcomes and improve overall health care value across this region.”
This initiative is part of federal efforts to transition Medicare spending away from volume-driven payment to value-based, patient-centered health care services and payment.
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