FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Sheila Champlin - (901) 448-4957, schampli@uthsc.edu

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

In Partnership with Methodist North and South Hospitals,

Receives $2,977,865 Award from CMS Innovation Center for

Project SAFEMED

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Will Improve Care for High-Risk Adults, Seniors with

Multiple Chronic Illnesses

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Memphis, Tenn. (July 10, 2012) - The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), in partnership with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare's Methodist North Hospital and Methodist South Hospital, QSource, United Healthcare, BlueCross BlueShield and its BlueCare Medicaid plan, Southwest Tennessee Community College, the Tennessee Pharmacists Association, and the Bluff City, Bin Sina, and Memphis Medical Societies, is receiving an award to improve medication adherence and effective medication usage among high-risk patients in the northwest and southwest sections of Memphis. The award for $2,977,865 is from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Innovation Center. Over three years, the funds will support Project SAFEMED.

The program will serve vulnerable adults (20-64) and seniors 65+ insured by Medicaid and/or Medicare who have multiple chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and chronic lung disease, as well as polypharmacy and high-inpatient utilization. Through teams of pharmacists, nurse practitioners, pharmacy technicians, and licensed practical nurse outreach workers based in outpatient centers, the program will work with primary care physicians and local pharmacies to provide comprehensive medication management.

This approach will improve adherence to safe and effective medication regimens, prevent adverse drug events, reduce resulting patient morbidity and mortality, reduce avoidable hospital admissions, and lower cost. Over the life of the program, the CMS Innovation Center estimates the total savings for Project SAFEMED at $3,160,844. At the same time Project SAFEMED will improve medication adherence, disease management, and patient health.

James E. Bailey, MD, MPH, professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine in the UTHSC College of Medicine, and an associate professor in the UTHSC Department of Preventive Medicine, will serve as the project director and Michael Ugwueke, D.H.A., CEO of Methodist North and Methodist South Hospitals, will serve as co-project director. Over a three-year period, the UTHSC program will train an estimated eight workers, while creating an estimated 11 jobs. The new positions will include outreach workers, outreach directors, and pharmacy techs.

The project described is supported by Funding Opportunity Number CMS-1C1-12- 0001 from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation presents the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the country with an opportunity to improve our healthcare system for Medicare, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries - and in doing so improve the healthcare system for the entire nation. The Innovation Center has the ability to test, evaluate and spread the best solutions from the diversity of innovators around the country. Congress created the Innovation Center under the Affordable Care Act, giving the Center the authority and direction to "test innovative payment and service delivery models to reduce program expenditures, while preserving or enhancing the quality of care" for those who get Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP benefits.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care, and public service. In 2011, UT Health Science Center celebrated its centennial: 100 years advancing the future of health care. Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main UTHSC campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The UTHSC campus in Knoxville includes a College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and an Allied Health Sciences unit. In addition, the UTHSC Chattanooga campus includes a College of Medicine and an Allied Health Sciences unit. Since its founding in 1911, UTHSC has educated and trained more than 53,000 health care professionals on campuses and in health care facilities across the state. For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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This study quantifies the economic impact of the UTHSC on the economy of the state of Tennessee for FY2010.

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