Congressman Salazar, Senators Udall and Bennet announce $12 million in Recovery Act funding for new health care pilot program in Grand Junction

Stimulus bill funds awarded following a March 15 letter of support
 from the three federal legislators

 

Congressman Salazar, Senators Udall and Bennet announce $12 million in Recovery Act funding for new health care pilot program in Grand Junction  

Stimulus bill funds awarded following a March 15 letter of support
 from the three federal legislators


Washington, DC— Today, Congressman John Salazar and Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet announced that $12 million in federal funding has been allocated for Colorado Beacon Consortium in Grand Junction, CO. On March 15, the three federal legislators wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius highlighting the efforts of the Grand Junction medical community and identifying it as a worthy recipient of Recovery Act funds. Only 15 communities across the country were chosen to serve as pilot communities for the “Beacon Communities” program. Grand Junction was chosen today as one of those 15 communities today. 

The Colorado Beacon Consortium will be led by Rocky Mountain Health Plans, and include Quality Health Network, Mesa County Independent Physicians’ Practice Association, and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.  The proposed service area will include Mesa, Garfield, Montrose, Rio Blanco, Delta, Gunnison, and Pitkin Counties.  Over 17,000 square miles, this area includes 300,000 residents and 12 hospitals. 

The Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement Program will provide funding to communities to build and strengthen their health information technology (health IT) infrastructure and exchange capabilities to demonstrate the vision of the future where hospitals, clinicians and patients are meaningful users of health IT, and together the community achieves measurable improvements in health care quality, safety, efficiency, and population health.  Specifically, the funding for Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance will help the organization enable robust collection of clinical data from health systems, providers, and hospitals in order to inform practice redesign to improve blood pressure control in patients with diabetes and hypertension, increase smoking cessation counseling, and reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization and hospital re-admissions.

The $220 million in Recovery Act funding awarded nationally today will not only help achieve meaningful and measurable improvements in health care quality, safety and efficiency in the selected communities, but also help lay the groundwork for an emerging health IT industry that is expected to support tens of thousands of jobs.

Congressman Salazar, Senator Udall and Senator Bennet offered the following comments on today’s announcement that $12 million in Recovery Act funding has been allocated for Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance:

“This funding will help grow our economy, save lives and bring the region the resources and recognition it deserves. I have been working very hard for the past year to make sure that the successes of the Grand Junction medical system are used as an example for other communities across the nation,” said Congressman Salazar.  “I’m glad to have helped bring this funding to the Colorado Beacon Consortium, so they can continue to improve the industry standard for health care delivery and provide much needed jobs.”

“Mesa County has long been a leader in the use of health IT, and this funding will ensure that leadership continues. This grant money will allow the members of the Colorado Beacon Consortium to improve the quality of the care they provide, helping to save lives and improve the health of individuals all over the Western Slope while providing the region with a valuable economic boost. I am happy that I could join with Congressman Salazar and Senator Bennet to help bring this money to Colorado,” said Senator Udall.   

“Rocky Mountain Health Plans has revolutionized health information technology to bring down costs and improve the quality of care for its patients,” said Senator Bennet.  “Health IT is a critical part of RMHP’s collaborative and highly-effective approach to clinical care – an approach that brings doctors, nurses and patients together to improve patient care at a lower cost.   This funding will help RMHP serve as a national model in collaborative care and provide it the resources it needs to improve the quality and delivery care at a lower costs to the patients it serves.”

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