Achieving the Triple Aim through Regional Healthcare Partnerships and Learning Collaboratives

Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program, or the Texas 1115 Medicaid Waiver, is a five-year program, 2011- 2016, that expands Medicaid managed care statewide and creates two new funding streams: an Uncompensated Care Pool and a Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Pool. Through DSRIP, hospitals and other healthcare providers earn incentives for investments in delivery system reforms that increase access to healthcare, improve the quality of care, and enhance the health of patients and families. DSRIP providers include public/private hospitals, community mental health centers, public health departments, and physician practices affiliated with academic medical schools, organized into 20 Regional Healthcare Partnerships (RHP). RHP 6 comprises 20 counties and 25 providers in South Central Texas, working collaboratively to implement 128 DSRIP projects approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and valued at over $1 billion. Projects are designed to address community needs and to achieve the Triple Aim. Since late 2013, RHP 6 providers have been actively participating in a series of Learning Collaboratives focused on  readmissions, primary care, behavioral health, and population health. The  Learning Collaboratives bring together regional stakeholders to resolve common barriers, share lessons learned, and achieve common goals. As of December 2014, outcomes of these efforts include development of an interactive guide to new programs and services available through the waiver program,  initial documentation and flowcharting of the regional behavioral health system of care, ten teams collaborating to reduce readmissions, and  site visits focused on school-based health, community health workers, and palliative care.