Dear valued stakeholder:
I am thrilled to announce that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has formally approved the SIM Operational Plan, and will release funding for year two of the SIM cooperative agreement today, February 1, 2016.
The SIM Operational Plan is a testament to the dedicated work carried out by our stakeholders, and is the latest in a growing list of achievements that we have accomplished together since the beginning of 2015. Together we successfully secured nearly $80 million for health transformation efforts in partnership with our federal and foundation partners. We attracted the interest and participation of hundreds of stakeholders across our state. We've secured commitments to payment reform from members of our multiplayer collaborative and are leading our nation as an example of a successful public-private partnership. We successfully collaborated with the University of Colorado in both selecting practice transformation organizations and the first cohort of 100 SIM practices.
Through our effort, Colorado is leading the way toward removing hurdles for those trying to access or pay for their mental health care. SIM has developed successful partnerships with 35 public health agencies across the state to support improvements in prevention and de-stigmatization of mental illness. In partnership with the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we are developing provider training modules to increase awareness around depression and substance use. These are just a few of the successes in the first full year of the SIM cooperative agreement as the full list would be too long to include in this letter.
With these successes under our belt, there is probably no better time for me to examine my own work/life balance. After giving it a tremendous amount of thought and consideration, I will be resigning my position at the end of February. Of course, SIM will continue to be a priority for the Hickenlooper Administration and I look forward to discussing my continued involvement in this program as it enters the next phase. While it pains me to leave this position, those of us in health care know better than most how important family and community can be. The Governor's Office is working hard to put a plan in place for my transition and we will be sure to update you when more information becomes available.
Thank you all for your incredible support of our work; we would not be here without each and every one of you. Because of your hard work and dedication SIM is off to a great start in Colorado, and I am confident that it will continue to blossom in the years to come. It has been a privilege to work alongside you on this journey thus far.
In deep gratitude for your partnership,
Vatsala
Vatsala Pathy
Director, Colorado SIM
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