Health Technology Push Expands to 21 New State and Local Governments
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The Multi-City Innovation Campaign started in four cities. Now, the expanding initiative aims to find solutions to items like how to improve emergency response times and increase access to mental health care.
The implementation of the Affordable Care Act and rise of custom-designed medical apps—both intended to make health care more accessible—currently have local and state governments on a health innovation kick.
Only in its second year, the 2015 Multi-City Innovation Campaign has added 21 new communities to fund health technology doing everything from improving emergency response times to increasing access to mental health care among teenage or prison populations.
Started by four cities of Boston, Massachusetts; Nashville, Tennessee; Palo Alto, California; and Raleigh, North Carolina, the tech-focused challenge asks teams of developers to make a Twitter pitch and submit sample source code by the fast-approaching April 10 deadline.
Partner communities like newcomers Durham County, North Carolina; the state of Rhode Island; and Chattanooga, Tennessee, rank finalists whose projects they want deployed at home, and all teams receiving at least five first-choice votes receive $5,000 from their backers—at minimum $25,000 and maximum $120,000.
"Chattanooga is full of innovative ideas—and the people to help see those ideas become reality,” Mayor Andy Berke told the Chattanoogan. “This nationwide innovation campaign ... reinforces Chattanooga’s position as a leader in the innovation economy.”
Apps monitoring urban pollution, establishing bike-safe areas or simply making health care costs more transparent are suggested innovations.
Other focus areas are promoting healthy lifestyles, treating or preventing chronic disease, health transportation, and improving living standards among the homeless and working poor.
To spice up the pot, one top startup will receive up to $100,000 in funding.
“As the leading voice of cities, we’re thrilled to be able to use our resources to grow this campaign and help our cities develop game-changing tools to address their greatest challenges such as health, public safety and economic development,” National League of Cities CEO Clarence Anthony said in a statement.
“It is important for cities to develop sustainable, technology-driven solutions that address the unique challenges that our local communities face.”
Health care innovation has been a hot topic of late, with some states considering applying for state innovation waivers when they become available in 2017 under Section 1332 of the ACA.
The waivers will allow states, with approval from federal regulators, to forgo many coverage components of the ACA, so long as their modified program accomplishes the law’s goals through other ways.
Vermont intends to apply hoping to implement the nation’s first single-payer health system, while Arkansas, Minnesota and New Mexico continue to mull over potential 1332 waiver options, according to the Kitsap Sun.
“Section 1332 waivers have the potential to give states flexibility to alter certain provisions of health reform—particularly related to the health insurance marketplaces, the federal subsidies available through the marketplaces, and the ACA’s ‘shared responsibility’ requirements for individuals and employers,” according to a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report.
“The waivers are limited in scope, however, and must ensure comprehensive coverage, affordability, comparable enrollment, and budget neutrality,” the report continued.