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Michigan announces pilot regions for the Blueprint for Health Innovation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 9, 2016

LANSING, Mich. – In moving forward to better coordinate care, lower costs, and improve the health of Michigan residents, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has selected the five pilot locations for the Blueprint for Health Innovation.

The identified regions are: Jackson County; Muskegon County; Genesee County; Northern Region; and the Washtenaw and Livingston counties area. Final boundaries will be determined after working with partners to target investments and impact. Additional development will begin this summer across the five regions over the three-year project period.

"Launching the pilot regions this summer will help us affect payment reform and lower costs for our residents" said Tim Becker, chief deputy director of the MDHHS. "Through the pilots MDHHS will work with the healthcare community to find the best ways to implement changes going forward."

The phased approach and timelines will be included in the Operational Plan due to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at the end of May 2016. The pilot regions will play an important role in developing a stakeholder engagement process to gather feedback on the Operational Plan prior to submission

Michigan received $70 million in federal funding for the next four years to support innovative health care system enhancements that benefit families from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Michigan’s plan, the Blueprint for Health Innovation, is the final product of the State Innovation Model planning process involving partners in the health care and business communities.

Michigan’s model recognizes that better health requires a comprehensive approach involving safe and healthy communities, workplaces, homes and lifestyles. The Blueprint for Health Innovation will focus on transforming service delivery and payment models by focusing on patient and family-centered health homes; coordination and accountability of the medical neighborhood; a care-bridge to behavioral health and long-term care; and integration between and among health care and community resources, including the Pathways community hub model.

For more information about the Blueprint for Health Innovation, visit http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,4612,7-132-2945_64491---,00.html.

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