CMS Innovations Center "Community-Based Care Transitions Program" Awarded to Visiting Nurse Association Health Group and Partner Coalition to Reduce 30-day Hospital Readmissions

Central New Jersey Care Transitions Program coalition first and only current New Jersey participant

RED BANK, N.J., March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that Visiting Nurse Association Health Group and a coalition of hospitals and community groups will implement the CMS Community-based Care Transitions Program (CCTP) in Monmouth, Middlesex and Union counties. The goal of the program is to improve the transition of Medicare beneficiaries with complex medical conditions discharged from hospitals to home or facilities who are at-risk for 30-day hospital readmission. Under the Central New Jersey Care Transitions Program (CNJCTP), the coalition group is the first and only current New Jersey program to participate in this Affordable Care Act funded initiative.

The program has the potential to aid 4,000 seniors a year and bring in Medicare funding to support care transition services over two years. Along with VNA Health Group, coalition members include CentraState Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Saint Peter's University Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, RWJ Visiting Nurses, Community VNA, Holy Redeemer Home Care, Monmouth County Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services, Middlesex County Office of Aging and Disabled Services, and Union County Division on Aging, as well as the Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey.  Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc. served as the convener for the coalition throughout the application process. 

"The care transitions program will help thousands of at risk seniors safely and successfully return home from the hospital. They will be less likely to "bounce back" to the hospital for preventable reasons, said Dr. Steven Landers, president and CEO of Visiting Nurse Association Health Group. "It is very exciting that this represents a collaboration of many hospitals and community organizations across three counties."

The coalition members will provide a transitional care program based on evidence informed models of care known to reduce readmissions in clinical trials such as Mary Naylor and Eric Coleman. Nurses or social worker "health coaches" from VNA Health Group and other coalition providers, trained in care transitions and chronic illness care concepts, will play a critical role in the program's success.  To learn more about the initiative go to http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/CCTP/.

About VNA Health Group
Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, serving the community for more than 100 years, is the leading nonprofit provider of home health, hospice, private care, and community-based services in New Jersey.  Each year, VNA Health Group serves more than 120,000 individuals throughout the state.  VNA Health Group members include VNA of Central Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, Cape Visiting Nurse Association and VNA of Englewood.  For more information on VNAHG services and programs or to learn how you can make a charitable contribution, visit www.vnahg.org or call 800-862-3330.

Contact: Kathy McKeever, Marketing & Media Relations, 732.224.6975

SOURCE VNA Health Group