The Stepping Stones project is now underway and gaining momentum in Whatcom County. Read about our latest efforts or subscribe to our newsletter to keep up-to-date with campaign activities.

 Stepping Stones Project Featured in National QIO NewsAutumn Issue, 2009
QIO News, produced by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services features the Stepping Stones Project in the Autumn 2009 issue. Read more.

Hospital Readmissions Are Costly, and Efforts Are Underway to Prevent Them

September 1, 2009
A Cleveland Plain Dealer article highlights the personal and medical costs associated with hospital readmissions. Read more.

Cutting Repeat Hospital Trips - Simple Idea, Hard to Pull OffJuly 2009
A Wall Street Journal article says the government spends an estimated $12 billion a year on "potentially preventable" readmissions for Medicare patients. Read more.

"Frequent Flier' Add Billions to Hospital BillsJune 30, 2009
A Washington Post article says readmissions reflect many deficiencies in a fragmented, poorly coordinated health system. Read more.

Medicare Announces Sites for Pilot Program to Improve Quality as Patients Move Across Care SettingsApril 13, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced the 14 communities around the nation that have been chosen for the Agency's Care Transitions Project, seeking to eliminate unnecessary hospital readmissions. Read more.

Study Finds Many on Medicare Return to HospitalApril 1, 2009
A New York Times article talks about a study that shows the dollars spent in a year on return visits to the hospital. Read more.

Medicare and Whatcom County Partners Launch New Care Transitions ProjectMarch 12, 2009
Whatcom County consumers will be introduced today to a federally-funded initiative that aims to improve healthcare transitions for patients. "Stepping Stones: Bridging Healthcare Gaps" is the Care Transitions Project of Whatcom County, one of only fourteen such community projects across the U.S. Read more.

News on other care transition efforts nationwide