Mayo receives $9M federal innovation grant

Mayo Clinic will receive up to $9 million in federal funding to help affiliated doctors and clinics outside Rochester adopt some of the team-based medical techniques and integrated care that have been hallmarks of its success.

The grant award, announced Tuesday, is part of a broader $685 million effort by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to move American medicine away from paying per doctor and per procedure and toward more holistic patient care.

"Supporting doctors and other health care professionals change the way they work is critical to improving quality and spending our health care dollars more wisely," said Sylvia Burwell, HHS secretary, in a prepared statement.

Mayo, which has earned a national reputation for salaried physicians and team-based care, has already been funding training at six clinic test sites on innovative ways to manage behavioral disorders and geriatric follow-up care that reduces repeat hospital trips for the elderly. The four-year federal grant will expedite that training at 80 Mayo-affiliated clinics in and around Minnesota.

"Health care is too expensive," said Dr. Kari Bunkers, medical director for Mayo's Office of Population Health Management. "This is our effort at reducing the high cost of health care and implementing a model that delivers more for less."

Mayo is one of 29 practice groups and health systems nationally to receive grants, which fund projects ranging from improving preventive care to promoting doctor communication with patients.

Jeremy Olson • 612-673-7744