CareLink chosen to lead two Medicare initiatives

PROVIDENCE – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has chosen CareLink Inc. to lead two projects in Rhode Island that support national initiatives aimed at improving care for Medicare recipients.
The first initiative, known as the “Community-Based Care Transition Plan,” part of national health care reform, will test innovative programs at four Rhode Island hospitals – Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Roger Williams Medical Center and Fatima Hospital – to reduce readmissions from high-risk patients, improve quality of care, lower Medicare spending and coordinate better care transitions.
Under the second program, known as the “Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative,” seven CareLink agencies will receive a bundle payment for health care services or “episodes of care” that include financial and performance incentives.
“Hospitals, acute-care facilities and public health officials alike all recognize that changes need to be made to how we are paid,” said Joan Kwiatkowski, CEO of CareLink. “CareLink member agencies are committed to providing high-quality patient care as well as providing leadership in the development of the long-term care system.” •

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