U.S. Rep. Karen Bass Announces Affordable Care Act Award for University of Southern California

LOS ANGELES –  U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) congratulated the University of Southern California on being selected to receive Health Care Innovation Award of $12 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Awarded today by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, USC was one of 81 recipients of this award, which was made possible by the Affordable Care Act. USC will use its Health Care Innovation Award to “integrate clinical pharmacy services into safety net clinics, provide medication therapy management, disease state management, medicine reconciliation, medication access services, patient counseling, drug information education, preventive care programs, provider education, and quality improvement review” for care providers and for vulnerable populations residing in Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, and Garden Grove, Calif.

“This announcement is a testament to the great work that USC is doing to keep its patients healthy, reduce avoidable hospitalizations and emergency room visits, while creating jobs, improving productivity and saving money. USC is a world-class institution that is very deserving of this grant and I encourage President Nikias to continue ushering USC into a thriving future.”

Over a three-year period, USC will train approximately 17 workers and will create an estimated 27 jobs including a programmer, project manager, pharmacists and pharmacy residents. USC will also use the funding to partner with the East Los Angeles Occupation Center technician training program to develop and curriculum that will expand the roles of 27 pharmacy technicians.

To date, HHS has awarded 107 projects across the nation that are designed to save the health care system $1.9 billion over the next three years.