SIM Initiative Evaluation: Model Test Year Five Annual Report. In December 2018, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation released its fifth annual report on Round 1 of the CMS State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative, which tests the ability of the governments in six states (Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont) to move providers to value-based payment. A number of these states had activities involving rural providers, including RHCs, FQHCs, and CAHs. As a key finding, states used SIM awards to provide resources to providers to enable provider participation in Medicaid alternative payment models. While most state-led models supported through SIM did not realize Medicaid savings, many results were promising considering the limited provider incentives. A 2017 guide from Rural Health Value highlights the rural focus within select SIM awards from Rounds 1 and 2.
