HHS awards funding for learning networks to transform clinical practice

The Department of Health and Human Services today awarded $685 million to 29 “practice transformation networks,” including some hospitals and health systems, and 10 supporting organizations to help clinicians improve patient outcomes and lower costs for Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollees through its Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative. The initiative, announced last year, is expected to support more than 140,000 clinicians and promote patient engagement. “Supporting doctors and other health care professionals change the way they work is critical to improving quality and spending our health care dollars more wisely,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, who released the awards in conjunction with a roundtable discussion on delivery system reform. “These awards will give patients more of the information they need to make informed decisions about their care and give clinicians access to information and support to improve care coordination and quality outcomes.”