PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS DELAWARES STATE HEALTH CARE INNOVATION PLAN

NEW CASTLE (Sept. 14, 2013) - Three public meetings have been scheduled to discuss Delaware's State Health Care Innovation Plan, part of a public comment period that continues through Sept. 25. The meetings are scheduled for:

• Kent County: 5-7 p.m. Sept. 17, Duncan Center, 500 W. Loockerman St., Dover.
• New Castle County: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 18, Sheraton Wilmington South Hotel, 365 Airport Road, New Castle.
• Sussex County: 3-5 p.m. Sept. 18, Delaware Technical Community College-Owens Campus, Lecture Hall, 21179 College Drive, Georgetown.

Each public meeting will cover the same agenda, which includes background on the State Innovation Model, the context and the case for change, an overview of the plan, and Q&A sessions.

In February, the National Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded Delaware a $2.5 million grant to develop a State Health Care Innovation Plan, a roadmap for transforming the state's health care delivery system by incorporating the triple aim of improving the health of Delawareans, improving health outcomes and reducing health care costs.

In creating the plan, more than 100 Delaware stakeholders have met more than 40 times since May. The stakeholders represent 40 organizations, including physicians, hospitals, other providers, insurers, businesses, consumer advocates, government, and the education and research community. The goal is to develop and implement a broad-cased health system transformation, including new payment and delivery models, that would improve the health of Delawareans and health outcomes, and reduce costs.

The next step is for the state to apply for a competitive testing grant, which could provide significant funding to support the implementation of the innovation plan.

For more information, go to http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhcc/cmmi/index.html or http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dhcc/presentations.html

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.