HHS to launch $840 million program to aid primary care practices

The federal Department of Health and Human Services will spend $840 million over the next four years for an ACA-created program designed to help doctors move their practices away from a volume-based business model to one that's focused on rewarding them for good patient outcomes (Source: “HHS prescribes $840 million to help doctors transform their practices,” (Columbus) Business First, Oct. 23, 2014). 

HHS’s "Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative" will fund networks of group practices and health systems that share their expertise with other practices, particularly those in rural areas and underserved communities. For example, a group that's decreased hospital admissions could show how they've done that through monitoring high-risk patients and treating problems before they reach a point where hospitalization is necessary.

Other funding will go to networks formed by medical associations that share information with each other, and let practices all around the country know about practices and policies that result in the best patient outcomes.