Providence, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today joined with Governor Lincoln Chafee and Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts in announcing $1,631,042 in federal funding from a State Innovation Model award to improve health care quality and lower costs. Rhode Island was one of 25 states to receive State Innovation Model funding, which was made available by the Affordable Care Act.
Rhode Island will use the funding to develop a RI Health Care Innovation Plan. The Plan will include a review of current state payment and delivery system reforms and identify a strategy to integrate these efforts and build a patient-centeredhealth care delivery system. The state’s Congressional delegation wrote a letter to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) supporting Rhode Island’s application for this award.
“I am pleased Rhode Island has received this funding to continue to improve our health care delivery system. These reforms can lead to higher quality and more affordable patient care, as well as control costs for state and federal government,” said Senator Jack Reed.
“Reforming our health care delivery system will improve care for patients while reducing costs. This funding will help us develop a roadmap to guide these efforts, and ultimately lead to better health care for Rhode Islanders,” said Senator Whitehouse, a national leader on health care delivery system reform efforts who also founded the Rhode Island Quality Institute in 2001 to work on these issues locally. “Rhode Island has long been a leader in this effort, and today’s award is a testament to the hard work of Governor Chafee, Lt. Governor Roberts, and others who have worked to keep our state at the forefront of health care innovation.”
“The innovation of health care delivery will play a crucial role in our capacity to increase quality while reducing overall costs to the system, and this award is an important tool toward achieving these effective outcomes for patients, providers and our state’s fiscal health,” said Rep. Langevin. “It is a great sign for the health of our citizens and our state’s economy that Rhode Island continues to be a leader in state innovations with the help of funding through this initiative.”
“I am pleased to join my colleagues in announcing that health care providers in Rhode Island will be receiving critical federal funds to lower health care costs and ensure that residents have access to the highest-quality health care services,” said Cicilline. “The Affordable Care Act has already provided significant benefits to our state, and I will continue working alongside Governor Chafee and the other members of our Congressional delegation to ensure that it is implemented in a way that benefits as many Rhode Islanders as possible.”
“Securing this federal funding truly was a team effort,” said Governor Chafee. “This is another example of how when state and federal officials — including our hardworking Congressional delegation and Lt. Governor Roberts — work together, we can produce results to benefit the people of Rhode Island. In this case, a State Innovation Model award to help make quality health care more affordable forRhode Island individuals and employers.”
Lt. Governor Roberts said, “This is thrilling news for the state of Rhode Island, particularly given our ongoing work to develop a Health Benefits Exchange as well as new, innovative Medicaid programs. Each of these projects represents a distinct but complimentary opportunity for improving healthcare in our state. This valuable planning process will provide Rhode Island with the data and tools it needs to drive community-based, patient-centered health systems, and I am excited to be coordinating the work of this grant for the state moving forward.”
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