A momentous accomplishment for our community that will go a log way to assist in our work to build a safe, efficient and effective Accountable Care Organization for Whatcom County.
"I am pleased to announce that the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) has recommended the Whatcom Alliance for Health Care Access (WAHA) for award of funds under the Care Transitions program (Project Impact). There are conditions on this award which have not yet been shared with us. We are scheduled to review these conditions by phone with CMS on January 17.
This is a multi-year award which carries with it up to $5.7 million to reimburse us for the cost of assisting patients to make safe transitions between care settings.
As you can appreciate, this is one key piece of several funding awards we must secure to fully implement the vision called for in our Phase I ACO work. On the other hand, the scale of the award relative to the current WAHA budget will present us all with stewardship and management challenges.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our many community partners in this venture without whom this effort is merely a shell. As well, please join me in thanking our staff, especially Elya Moore, whose hard work and inspiration led to this success.
Larry Thompson"
