Events
Recent CMS Funding Awarded to Elder Services
Fact Sheet on Community-based Care Transition ProgramElder Services of the Merrimack Valley One of Seven Nationwide to be Awarded Funds by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
DECEMBER 2011, Lawrence, MA
Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Elder Services, is one of seven organizations across the country selected to test new ways to improve care for people with Medicare, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, has announced.
"Lack of coordinated care between hospitals and caretakers such as nursing homes or home health providers can sometimes result in medical complications and costly, potentially avoidable return trips to the hospital" said Donald M. Berwick, M.D., CMS Administrator.
Elder Services will be working with local hospitals to improve coordination of services, prevent problems after patients leave the hospital, and promote better health and better use of health care dollars. Partner hospitals include Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport, Saints Medical Center in Lowell, Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill, and Lawrence General Hospital in Lawrence.
The Community Based Care Transitions Program is an initiative of the Partnerships for Patients created by the new health care law. Program goals include reducing hospital readmissions by 20 percent over a three year period. By forming partnerships with area hospitals and other health care providers, Elder Services will help Medicare beneficiaries stay in contact with their doctors and ensure proper post-acute care steps are being followed. With the CMS funding, there is an opportunity to help 10 to 15,000 elders a year in the Merrimack Valley alone, and CMS projects potential savings of 35 billion dollars with this initiative.
For more information, contact Pati Fernandez at pfernandez@esmv.org.