National Academy for State Health Policy – Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative Webinar — State Innovations: Updates from the Minnesota Health Care Home Initiative
Thursday, April 17, 2014
11:00 – 12:00 pm ET
Minnesota’s statewide Health Care Home Initiative (HCH), a multi-payer patient-centered medical home program that currently has 322 certified HCHs, recently released its first program evaluation. This webinar provides background on the initiative and highlight the key findings of the 2014 HCH Evaluation Report to the Minnesota State Legislature. Join Dr. Douglas Wholey, University of Minnesota (Minnesota’s independent HCH program evaluator) and Marie Maes-Voreis, Director, Minnesota Health Care Homes, to learn more about Minnesota’s progress.
Speakers:
- Neva Kaye, Managing Director, Health System Performance, National Academy for State Health Policy
- Douglas Wholey, PhD, Professor, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
- Marie Maes-Voreis, MA, PHN, BSN, Director Health Care Homes, State of Minnesota
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
