UIC, governor’s office in partnership to transform health care delivery

UIC has entered into an agreement with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to collect and analyze Medicaid, Medicare and other data to transform Illinois’ health care delivery and payment system.

Under a $2 million federal planning grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Illinois’ State Health Innovations Plan, led by the governor’s office, will develop new models of care delivery and payment reforms to improve the state health system.

“The goal is to coordinate care on behalf of the patient so that there are better outcomes, better quality of care, and a ‘medical home’ for each person who needs health care — and ultimately, less spending on health care,” said Ann Patla, chief executive director of the Medicaid Support program at UIC.

With support from Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares and Vice Chancellor for Research Mitra Dutta, UIC will “conduct the critical data analytics, which will form the foundation for state-level health policy decisions,” Patla said. “This will allow the state to redesign how health care is delivered and how providers will be paid under health care reform.”

“The UIC campus is honored to participate in the governor’s State Health Innovations Plan,” Allen-Meares  said. “This project will establish an expert team of data analysts who will be critical in designing the plan, which will transform the health system.”

After a six-month planning period, the state will submit a proposal to the federal government to test the new delivery models and determine which is most effective for Illinois.

“We look forward to working with Chancellor Allen-Meares and UIC in this groundbreaking State Health Innovations program, named the Alliance for Health in Illinois,” said Theresa Eagleson, Medicaid administrator for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

“With federal grant support, this planning effort builds on the Medicaid and Medicare reforms being implemented in Illinois to achieve better health care coordination, and most importantly, better integration of delivery systems and health care outcomes.

“While cognizant of the negative impact rising health care costs have on the entire state budget, we also recognize that true savings can only be achieved by improving care for individuals and thus reducing avoidable medical expenses,” Eagleson said.

“The Alliance for Health effort represents another example of coordinating the expertise available through the University of Illinois at Chicago with the goals of Illinois’ Medicaid agency and the Office of the Governor.”

The project is led by Gov. Pat Quinn with broad public participation by health care providers, health care advocacy organizations, academic institutions, private health insurance organizations and key state executive agencies, including the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services.