In an effort designed to improve care for people living in nursing facilities who are enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rolled out the Initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among nursing facility residents.

The initiative aims to reduce hospitalizations among nursing facility residents by funding organizations that would partner with nursing facilities to provide on-site services and support to nursing facility residents. CMS stated it is committing up to $128 million to support a diverse portfolio of these evidence-based interventions.

The initiative will be run collaboratively by the CMS Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.

Through this initiative, CMS will partner with independent organizations to improve care for long-stay nursing facility residents. These organizations will collaborate with nursing facilities and states to provide coordinated, person-centered care with the goal of reducing avoidable hospital stays. Eligible organizations can include physician practices, care management organizations and other public and nonprofit entities.

Each organization will propose its own evidence-based intervention and improvement strategy. All participants will have staff on-site at nursing facilities to provide preventive services and improve coordination and communication among providers.

CMS issued a request for applications and organizations interested in participating in this initiative must submit an application by June 14.

More information about this initiative is available on CMS’ website.