Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ06) - Congressman Pallone Announces $14 Million Health Care Innovation Award for Rutgers University

WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, will receive a $14 million Health Care Innovation Award from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made possible by the Affordable Care Act. The funding was awarded to Rutgers University’s Center for State Health Policy to expand and test a team-based care management strategy, which will deliver high-quality, cost-saving health care. Congressman Pallone is the Senior Democrat on the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health and served as a primary author of the Affordable Care Act.

Care management teams including nurses, social workers, and community health workers will work together to serve high-cost, high-need, low-income populations served by safety-net provider organizations in Allentown, PA, Aurora, CO, Kansas City, MO, and San Diego, CA. Rutgers University’s strategy is expected to save $67 million over three years, train an estimated 155 workers and create approximately 43 jobs.

“I applaud Rutgers University’s Center for State Health Policy for their innovative approach to health care that will save money and expand quality care to some of our most vulnerable populations,” said Pallone. “This is another example of the Affordable Care Act working for Americans and helping improve patient outcomes while ultimately saving the system billions of dollars by cutting down on preventable emergency room visits.”

The teams will provide clients with patient-centered support in order to addresses immediate health care needs, such as filling prescriptions or applying for health coverage, as well as treating long term and chronic conditions. After patients are stabilized, the care management team will transition them to local primary care medical homes.

In total, HHS has awarded 107 projects nationwide that are intended to save the health care system an estimated $1.9 billion over the next three years.

“In addition to expanding quality care, I am pleased this funding will create good health care jobs that will benefit local communities,” Pallone added.

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Contact:

Ray Zaccaro

202-225-4671