Two New Performance Improvement Programs for Colorado Primary Care Practices Begin in March and April 2020

UNHEALTHY ALCOHOL USE – FACILITATING ALCOHOL SCREENING AND TREATMENT (FAST)

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, one in five adults in Colorado drink excessively and five deaths per day are due to excessive drinking.  Short-term health risks include injuries, violence, alcohol poisoning, risky sexual behaviors, miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FDSAs) among pregnant women.  

The FAST program is designed to help primary care practices increase efforts to address patients’ unhealthy alcohol use by providing six months of facilitated training that will cover Screening, Brief Intervention, Medication Assisted Treatment and when necessary, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT plus MAT), access to experts in medical and behavioral treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), peer to peer support for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), and more.  It’s funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

One hundred thirty-two practices in Colorado will each receive $1,000 for time spent related to the nine-month project and will be supported in the program either virtually or in-person by a highly trained Practice Facilitator. HealthTeamWorks is one of several organizations from which practices may choose to provide that facilitation.

More information about the program design and timing, what practices will receive and is required of them: FAST Handout

INNOVATION SUPPORT PROJECT (ISP)

The three-year ISP program is designed to help primary care practices that serve Medicaid patients improve quality of care while optimizing their performance in new payment models, including Medicaid’s Alternative Payment Model (APM) for Primary Care. 

ISP is open to Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and OB/GYN practices that provide comprehensive primary care services.  The program is broadly focused on supporting practices in implementing the principles of advanced primary care to improve quality and patient / caregiver experience of care, integrate physical and behavioral health, and better-manage utilization of health and community services.  

Eighty Colorado practices will receive facilitation support aligned with their specific needs and goals from one of several practice transformation organizations (PTO) from which they may select. The amount of on-site practice support is dependent on each practice’s degree of evolution to advanced primary care.  Two collaborative learning sessions per year will be offered to provide opportunities for peer to peer learning and the services of a Regional Health Connector (RHC) will assist practices with community linkages to support patient needs.  If needed, support from a clinical health information technology advisor (CHITA) and program participants may be eligible for CME, Maintenance of Certification, and/or COPIC points.

More information about the program design and timing, what practices will receive and is required of them: ISP Handout

For more information and to enroll in either or both of these programs: https://www.practiceinnovationco.org