HPC Invests in Community Hospitals

The Health Policy Commission (HPC) on October 23, 2013 made $10 million available to help certain Massachusetts community hospitals. Eligible institutions in the state can apply for up to $500,000 from the first phase of HPC’s investment program. The “Community Hospital Acceleration Revitalization, and Transformation program or referred to as CHART is focused on improving the delivery of health care in community hospitals.

The CHART Investment Program will provide a total of $119 million to be dispersed over a four year period. HPC commissioners have approved Phase 1 funding to make the $10 million immediately available for the Phase 1 Request for Proposals (RFP) titled “Foundational Investments to Prime System Transformation”.

All RFPs should support CHART goals to:

  • Enable community hospitals to provide care coordination, advance the integration for behavioral and physical health services, promote evidence-based care practices and efficient care delivery, and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services
  • Advance the adoption of health information technology including interoperable electronic health records systems and clinical support tools
  • Accelerate the electronic exchange of information with other providers
  • Support infrastructure investments as needed to transition to alternative payment methodologies
  • Develop care practices and other operational standards necessary for certification a accountable care organization or as a patient-centered medical home
  • Plan or develop investment proposals supporting these goals

 

Non-profit, non-teaching, and acute hospitals eligible for CHART Phase I funding will have to demonstrate their capability to implement a pilot model to demonstrate progress towards improving the quality of care.

“CHART Phase 1 announcement (HPC-CHART-001) is due December 11, 2013. The information session for applicants will be held in November 2013 and awardees will be announced January 8, 2014.

HPC anticipates releasing a Phase 2 RFP in spring 2014. For more information, go to www.mass.gov/anf/docs/hpc/20131021-chart-phase-1-rfp.pdf  or go to www.mass.gov/hpc.