Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative: Application Period Closes July 20, 2012

The Innovation Center at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently opened the application period for primary care practices interested in participating in the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPC) a multi-payer initiative fostering collaboration between public and private health care payers to strengthen primary care.  The application period closes at 5:00 p.m. ET on July 20, 2012.The CPC Initiative will test a more robust primary care service delivery model supported by enhanced payments, whereby Medicare, commercial and State health insurance plans will offer non-visit based payments to primary care doctors who better coordinate care for their patients.  Details can be viewed on the Innovation Center CPC page. CMS will be offering a $20 (average) per beneficiary per month care management fee on behalf of aligned Medicare beneficiaries who receive care in selected practices, as well as an opportunity to earn shared savings; aligned private payers are each offering their own monthly support payments and an opportunity to earn shared savings to practices in their networks who are selected by CMS.Participating practices agree to transform their practices and offer an enhanced model of Comprehensive Primary Care. An introductory webinar for primary care practitioners about this initiative is also now available at innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/Comprehensive-Primary-Care-InitiativeApproximately 75 primary care practices in each of the seven designated markets listed below will be selected to participate in the CPC initiative:·         Arkansas-Statewide·         Colorado-Statewide·         New Jersey-Statewide·         New York-Capital District-Hudson Valley Region·         Ohio and Kentucky-Cincinnati-Dayton Region·         Oklahoma-Greater Tulsa Region·         Oregon-StatewideApplications from primary care practices in these geographic areas are currently being accepted.  The first step of the application is completing the Application Pre-Screening tool.  Upon completing the tool, applicants meeting the minimum level eligibility requirements will receive an email with further details about how to complete the rest of the application process.Again, all applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm ET on July 20, 2012.For more information on the CPC initiative, including the Application Pre-Screening tool, visit innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/Comprehensive-Primary-Care-Initiative.