Balancing Incentive Program Innovation Grants
Through the BIP funding, several demonstration projects are being funded to pilot innovative concepts to enhance the discharge process.
Selfhelp Community Services, Inc., in New York City, is working to prevent hospital readmissions by targeting high-risk groups and supporting them through the discharge process to ensure a plan is in place and follow up is done. The project mirrors a CMS-funded program for Medicare and outlines use of similar procedures/protocols. The project is estimated to reach an estimated 1,380 patients from 3 hospitals.
Tompkins County Transitions Support Program provides a modified Coleman Care Transition Intervention model to support transitions from hospital to home. This project is based on previous work done through a CMS Innovation project funded through Section 3026 of the ACA, as well as work completed through a 2010 grant funded through the Administration on Community Living.
The program has two main tenets, the first being a Registered Nurse (RN) who provides medication reconciliation education and follow-up for any appointments with their PCP or other service providers; provides education to the patient on how to identify warning signs and how to address any of these symptoms, implements tele-monitoring when indicated; provides a home safety evaluation; and provides referrals to other services and supports when needed. Secondly, the Transitions Support Program will provide outreach to community service providers to enhance awareness and knowledge of the program and provide education on how to refer patients and clients to the program.
Building Bridges to Home and Community project in Niagara Falls provides education to discharge planners and strengthens the role of family caregivers of individuals with physical and behavioral issues through training, education and support.
Other care transition programs
New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn developed a patient-centric, post-acute care partnership to coordinate care when a patient is transferred from a hospital to a SNF or HHC service. By working with SNFs and HHC agencies, New York Methodist was able to improve the coordination of care for patients transitioning to another setting in the care continuum. As a result, the level of readmissions for patients enrolled in the program was reduced by almost 50%.
Elizabethtown Community Hospital ensures all patients are provided with a full continuum of care when they are discharged from the hospital. Every patient is called 24 to 72 hours after being discharged and assigned a Care Transitions Coach as needed. The Care Transitions Coach makes home visits, coordinates community services, and provides medication support for those patients at risk for readmission.