One of the most unique components of the Maryland Primary Care Program (MDPCP) is the formation of Care Transformation Organizations (CTOs). The concept of CTOs is a bold new idea that is entirely unique to Maryland; no other value-based program in the nation has defined a specific role for new entities to guide practice transformation in this fashion. Under the MDPCP, CTOs will support participating practices’ care transformation efforts by generating economies of scale to help provide services that are challenging for many practices to engage in financially or operationally, such as care managers, pharmacists, behavioral health counseling, social services, community health workers, and health education. While practices are not required to partner with a CTO to participate in the MDPCP, CTOs will play a critical role in shaping the way primary care is delivered in Maryland.

At this time, we are nearing the end of the application window for CTOs. For health systems, accountable care organizations (ACOs), and other organizations that are in a position to provide resources and services for practices, applying to serve as a CTO presents a unique opportunity to have a direct influence on care transformation in Maryland. The CTO application will close on Monday, July 23, at midnight, after which the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) will begin to review applications. Decisions regarding approved CTOs will be revealed in the following weeks.

As the applications for CTOs come to a close, we also encourage providers to begin looking at program materials and the applications, as applications will only be open between Wednesday, Aug. 1 and Friday, Aug. 31. Once CMMI has selected CTOs, the list of approved CTO options will be posted on our website under the CTO Comparison Tool. The tool will include details about each CTO to assist practices with making a comparison. Practices should explore the available options for CTO partnerships as part of their preparation for the application.

Whether you are interested in joining the MDPCP as a CTO or a practice, the decision to submit an application is unique to each individual organization, so we encourage you to carefully review the program opportunity and materials on our website to determine whether the MDPCP is right for you. We hope that you will consider joining us as we work to improve care delivery for all Marylanders.

Howard Haft, MD, MMM, FACPE

Executive Director, Program Management Office

New Practice Resources Available

If you are a primary care practice interested in participating in the MDPCP, it’s not too early to begin preparing for the application! Though the official requirements are available in the Request for Applications (RFA), applicants can look for additional guidance in:

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)—a guidance document that can help answer some of applicants' most common questions
• Instructions and Downloadable Letter Template for practices to request a Letter of Support from the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP). This is a required component of the practice application, so don’t wait until the last minute to request your letter
• Practice Portal User Manual (new)—instructions for how to log into and navigate the practice application portal, which will open Aug. 1

MDPCP Education

The Program Management Office (PMO) hosts many events to educate stakeholders about the upcoming MDPCP. Events include in-person meetings, online presentations, and the weekly release of new videos for a mini-webinar series.

Mini-Webinar Series

Mini-webinars are only a few minutes in length to provide a concise, easy-to-understand overview of important topics that applicants frequently have questions about. Recently added webinar topics include: 

• CTO Application—View now
• CTO Payments—View now
• Practice Application Overview—View now 
• Practice Application Portal (new)—View now 
• CTO Role and Services (new)—View now

Upcoming Events

Other educational events being held in the upcoming weeks include:

• Practice Opportunity and Program Review Webinar: Thursday, July 26, 5 to 6 p.m.
• MDPCP Practice Q&A Session Webinar: Thursday, Aug. 2, 5 to 6 p.m.
• MDPCP Practice Q&A Session Webinar: Thursday, Aug. 23, 5 to 6 p.m.

Full Calendar

Program Timeline

Now that the RFA for the MDPCP has been available for a few weeks, there are several upcoming application deadlines and milestones:  

• The electronic application for CTOs is closing on Monday, July 23, at midnight. If you intend to apply to be a CTO, please make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to review and submit your application before the deadline
• CTOs will be selected in late July
• Practices will be able to view available CTOs using the CTO Comparison Tool starting in August and prior to starting their applications
• Practice applications will be open from Wednesday, Aug. 1 until Friday, Aug. 31

Please see the timeline for a more detailed overview of the application and selection process.