January 22, 2015

Accenture Study Identifies Top Five Healthcare Investment Priorities for States in the U.S.



Technology, data and integration of care are key as health and human services converge


ARLINGTON, VA; Jan. 22, 2015 – The State Health Innovation Plans developed by 25 states –with federal government support – reveal a variety of emerging approaches to healthcare reform that will likely take root and grow more broadly around the United States, according to a new report by Accenture.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has invested $960 million in the creation of the State Innovation Models initiative to support state-based healthcare transformation. The funding was allocated in two phases: roughly $300 million was awarded in 2013 for design and testing of projects and another $660 million in 2014 to support the state-led efforts to improve delivery systems and payment models across Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“State innovation plans will focus on integrating approaches to healthcare and expanding access to care, driven by the pressing need to improve outcomes and control healthcare costs,” said Kaveh Safavi M.D, global managing director of Accenture’s health practice. “Integrating healthcare and human services – starting with the data they gather and the outcomes they achieve – will break down data silos to make operations and information more transparent and coordinated while aligning federal resources to eliminate gaps.”

Accenture’s analysis of the state innovation plans found the top five projected investment areas by the states currently participating in the program are as follows:

“These initiatives taking hold across the country are part of the shift from an essentially outdated healthcare system to the evolution of family and community-centered care models and a real convergence of health and human services,” Safavi added.

Learn more about Accenture’s Insight Driven Health and Delivering Public Service for the Future.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with approximately 319,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$30.0 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2014. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

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Contact:

Jenn Francis
Accenture
+ 630 338 6426
jennifer.francis@accenture.com

Joe Dickie
Accenture
+ 512 694 6422
joseph.r.dickie@accenture.com