Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM)
Health innovation news
February 2017
Learning from SIM cohort 1

More than 80 stakeholders gathered Jan. 18 for the inaugural SIM Symposium to share ideas, identify challenges and open dialogue between insurance companies, SIM providers and practice transformation organizations that act as guides in the process.

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The Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM) celebrates one year of practice implementation this month and releases its application for cohort 2. The team has learned what worked well for cohort 1, identified barriers to success and used that feedback to improve the program for cohort 2.
We believe these changes will bolster efforts to help 400 Colorado primary care sites and four bidirectional health homes integrate behavioral health and primary care to improve patient outcomes and test alternative payment models. We continue to publish stories about staff members who intervene early to help patients lead healthier, happier lives with SIM support. Those stories fuel the efforts of SIM practices that are transforming workflows and staffing models to make whole-person care a reality.
 
It is difficult work and we applaud their efforts to deliver whole-person care, which reduces costs and alleviates provider burnout. Please help us spread the word about SIM and encourage providers to join this circle of healthcare innovators: https://bitly.com/simapplication.
SIM cohort 2 benefits defined

The SIM office will release its request for applications for cohort 2 next week and has a quick-hit resource that outlines benefits to encourage participation . Please read, share and encourage practices to start integrating behavioral health and primary care to improve patient outcomes with SIM. 

Additional resources:
Secrets of success
 
In the third installment of our practice transformation series, Rachel Griffin, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, shares perspectives on how integrated care benefits patients and providers, and the unique skills needed for success. 


The SIM office released a simplified set of clinical quality measures to reduce provider reporting burden and align with the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus initiative and the Quality Payment Program. The changes were made based on feedback from practices and practice transformation organization representatives.

We will host a webinar Feb. 28 to review the simplified measures and will update the SIM calendar with registration information this week. 
Broadband subsidy available
 
The SIM office is working with Colorado Telehealth Network (CTN) to secure a federal broadband subsidy for qualifying SIM cohort sites. Eligible sites include hospitals, rural health clinics, local health departments, community health centers, and health centers providing healthcare to migrant workers. Eligible services and equipment include any advanced telecommunications or information service that enables healthcare providers to post their own data and interact with stored data. If you are interested in learning more about how CTN can help you get a subsidy, please email Eskedar Makonnen or call 720-330-6081.
TCI issues grant opportunity
 
There are 22 days left to apply for a Telligen Community Initiative grant that falls within the areas of health innovation, social determinants of health and healthcare workforce development. 

Local resources for the QPP

Save the date (Feb. 16, 12:15-1:15 pm) for a Quality Payment Program (QPP) webinar and learn more about the Colorado QPP Coalition, which consolidates useful resources, from your colleagues. 
SIM information-sharing webinar

The integration of behavioral and physical health in primary care settings can be a challenging process to navigate. In addition to the logistics of realigning or adding to care teams, professionals must assess and abide by regulations associated with sharing behavioral and physical health records. Join the SIM team and several guest speakers Feb. 22 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to discuss different aspects of sharing behavioral health information and get your questions answered by subject matter experts. 

Register for the event, which is the first in a series of webinars that will address the practical implications of sharing patient health information to facilitate care coordination and effective communication. 
Using telehealth to serve children with special healthcare needs in Colorado

Significant advances in technology makes telehealth and telemedicine feasible, enhancing access to services and
education. Join JFK Partners and the  Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs on Feb. 16, from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. to hear about efforts in Colorado to provide access to these methods with particular emphasis on
the acceptance by families.
Suggested articles and media:

New paper describes alternatives to the traditional fee-for-service payment model, concluding that global payment provides the optimal structure for integrating behavioral health physicians into the patient-centered medical home.
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Twitter:
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