CMS Innovation: Deadline Extended for State Innovation Models Applications

 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced last month a competitive funding opportunity for States to design and test multi-payer payment and delivery models that deliver high-quality health care and improve health system performance. Under the State Innovation Models initiative, states can apply for either Model Testing awards or Model Design awards.  Due to scheduled maintenance that will cause grants.gov to be inaccessible on September 17, the Innovation Center is modifying the State Innovation Models initiative application deadline as follows:  Applications for the State Innovation Models initiative are now due on Monday, September 24 by 5:00pm ET. This applies to all applications for Model Design awards and Model Testing awards. CMS is also providing further clarification to States on the required financial templates for Model Design applicants. Model Design applicants should describe, if known, the anticipated cost savings and the return on investment for the overall state model and basis for expected savings. Grants.gov is undergoing a migration from the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) to the System for Award Management (SAM). CMS strongly encourages states to check the grants.gov website to verify that their registration is current. Upcoming WebinarCMS Innovation Center staff will be hosting a webinar for state officials on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 from 3:00pm to 4:00pm ET to provide additional information on the application process, financial templates and accessing Medicare data. What: Webinar: State Innovation Models Initiative for State Officials – Application Process When: Tuesday, August 28, 2012  |  3:00pm – 4:30pm ET Where: Register for the webinar here. Participants are strongly encouraged to use the web links for full access to the presentations. If you are unable to hear audio on both webinars via your computer speakers or would prefer to listen via the telephone, please dial 1-888-392-4587. Please connect to the webinar and dial in 10 minutes early to ensure that you are joined into the webinar. If you are unable to join, the slides, audio recording and transcript will be made available following the webinars. For more information on the State Innovation Models, including an updated FAQ to address questions from the last webinars, please visit innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/state-innovations. The CMS Innovation Center was created by the Affordable Care Act to test innovative payment and service delivery models that have the potential to reduce program expenditures while preserving or enhancing the quality of care. More information is at innovation.cms.gov or follow us @CMSinnovates.