News Release

Harvard Pilgrim awards Quality Grant funding to 14 providers for 2017

Initiatives address behavioral health, telehealth, serious illness discussions, drug costs

Grant and Award Announcement

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

Wellesley, MA - Physician practices in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire will receive grant funding this year from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's Quality Grants Program. Harvard Pilgrim's 18th annual grant program will fund 14 initiatives designed to improve care delivery and reduce costs within a variety of care delivery models. Over the past 17 years, Harvard Pilgrim has funded over 270 initiatives totaling more than $19 million dollars.

"It is very encouraging to see how physicians are evolving the practice of medicine to meet the needs of their patients," said Dr. Michael Sherman, senior vice president and chief medical officer. "While many of the concerns we hear about today have not been part of the traditional medical school curriculums, these practices are stepping up with innovative ideas for issues such as substance use management, medication adherence and improving the experience for LGBTQ patients. We commend these efforts and look forward to sharing the best practices that emerge from these efforts to improve patient care throughout our region," he said.

Physician leaders from the Harvard Pilgrim provider network helped select the winning proposals. Review criteria included demonstrated need, innovation in providing care, sustainability, care coordination for complex and chronic care and behavioral health integration. For more information, visit http://www.harvardpilgrim.org/qualitygrants.

The following provider groups received grants from Harvard Pilgrim for initiatives designed to improve care delivery and reduce costs:

MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization
ME
Improving the health of patients with COPD through innovative partnerships between specialty and primary care

Southcoast Health Network
MA
Use of ambulatory pharmacy services to improve patient medication adherence and drug cost management

Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital
NH
Psychiatry eConsults: Supporting behavioral health and substance use management in the Primary Care Medical Home

Eastern Maine Medical Center
ME
Reducing hospital readmission rates for ambulatory care sensitive conditions

Mt. Auburn Cambridge Independent Practice Association
MA
Expanding a pilot in population health management to target additional chronic diseases

Steward Health Care Network
MA
Redesigning care delivery: diabetes management in your community

Valley Medical Group
MA
Improving the healthcare experience for LGBTQ patients

Boston Medical Center
MA
Cancer transitions, behavioral health integration and population health management

DFD Russell Medical Centers
ME
Care transitions, behavioral health integration and population health management

Foundation Medical Partners
NH
Behavioral health integration at primary care practices within Foundation Medical Partners

InterMed
ME
Discussions about serious illness in the primary care setting

Atrius Health
MA
Telemanagement of children with asthma and their caregivers

Frisbie Memorial
NH
Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program

Maine Quality Counts
ME
Deepening behavioral health integration to address Opioid Use Disorder in primary care

###

About Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Harvard Pilgrim is a not-for-profit health services company that, along with its subsidiaries, is improving the well-being of its 2.7 million customers. Harvard Pilgrim's flagship health plans in New England provide health coverage to 1.3 million members, while another 1.4 million individuals are served through Health Plans, Inc., a subsidiary that provides integrated care management, health coaching and plan administration solutions to self-funded employers nationwide. Founded in 1969, Harvard Pilgrim has built its reputation on innovation and collaboration with a goal of lowering health care costs, improving care and enhancing the overall member experience. It is known for its excellent clinical programs, customer service, health improvement strategies and innovative tools that offer consumers greater transparency and empower them to make better decisions about their health care. Harvard Pilgrim is home to the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, a unique collaboration with Harvard Medical School. As Harvard Medical School's Department of Population Medicine, the Institute is the only appointing department of a U.S. medical school housed within a health plan. Funded primarily through external government and private sources, it provides critical information to all levels of our health care system on issues affecting population health and health care delivery. Harvard Pilgrim is consistently among America's highest-rated health plans according to an annual ranking of the nation's best health plans by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)*.

*Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (private HMO/POS and PPO plans) and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England (private HMO/POS plans) have been rated 4.5 out of 5 in NCQA's Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2016-17. NCQA's Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2015-16. NCQA's Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings, 2011-15, HMO/POS/PPO.


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.