West Kingston, RI – June 28, 2012 – The University of Rhode Island (URI) was awarded a $14 million federal grant to develop a program coordinating the health care of adults with cognitive disabilities. The role of Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. will be to customize its award winning evidence-based online LifeStyle Management programs to meet the special needs of the population. Pro-Change’s e-Learning training program will guide providers in using the Transtheoretical Model to coach patients in health behavior change for smoking cessation, regular exercise, stress management, and weight management.
The three-year grant was one of 81 new Health Care Innovation Awards announced this month. The grants are made possible by the Affordable Care Act.
With this funding, URI will develop a program called “Living Rite” to improve and coordinate health care for people with cognitive disabilities and multiple health risks who are covered by both Medicaid and Medicare. The Living Rite project is expected to create 31 jobs and save $15.5 million in health care costs by preventing illness, as well as managing illness more effectively to reduce the need for emergency room visits, nursing home care, and hospitalization.
About the University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is Rhode Island’s public learner-centered research university. Located in Kingston, RI with three other campuses throughout the state, URI is the only public institution in Rhode Island offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students the distinctive educational opportunities of a major research university.