Denver Health won $19.8 million from a highly competitive federal grant to hire “navigators” and information specialists who can sort high risk cases to cut costs and improve care.
Denver Health believes it can extend the complex services to 15,000 new patients, saving $40 million over three years by reducing ER visits and expensive procedures through better primary medicine and mental health coordination.
A rule of thumb in high-risk cases — such as obesity and diabetes accompanied by mental illness and addiction — of spending. Making inroads with a few hundred or few thousand patients can save millions.
The health information technology specialists hired with the grant will add to those already combing Denver Health cases and records for clues. Diabetic patients, for example, need frequent foot and eye checks to avoid complications. Those who are shut in or mentally ill skip their care and get acutely sick.
The $19.8 million grant will create new high-risk centers for adults and pediatrics at Denver Health, and another at Mental Health Center of Denver, with physical and mental health available at all three.
“It recognizes us as a high-performing health center, and allows us to create a model for high-risk populations,” said Dr. Paul Melinkovich of Denver Health.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid innovation grants come through the Affordable Care Act, which is under threat from a U.S. Supreme Court review expected any day. Health officials say they do not know what will happen with grant programs if the act is struck down in whole or in part.
There are extensive measurements of cost savings and quality built into the grant program, Denver Health officials said.
