Update on National Evaluation of Systems Transformation Grants

In Fiscal Years 2005-6 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) awarded over 50 million dollars under the Real Choice Systems Change Grants to support he design and development of systems infrastructures that result in effective and enduring improvements in community long-term support systems. Eighteen states have been awarded Systems Transformation grants (10 in FY05 and 8 in FY06) to (1) improve access to long-term support services, (2) increase choice and control through self directed service delivery systems, (3) develop a comprehensive quality management systems, (4) transform information technology to support systems change, (5) create a funding system to promote community living options, and (6) coordinate long-term supports with affordable and accessible housing. The major goal of these grants is to assist states in rebalancing their investments from long-term care institutions to community-based consumer-friendly options. Abt Associates, funded by CMS to implement both a process and outcome evaluation, will give an overview of the evaluation framework and strategies. In addition, a set of indicators for assessing progress in all states for all six goals has been developed in partnership with the grantees, Abt and CMS. Grantees will report on these measures annual as well as present findings of their own local evaluation outcomes. Each grantee is required to develop a strategic plan with stakeholder participation before funds are released for the implementation phase of the grants. Lessons learned from the strategic planning experiences of the 18 states will be shared.