On April 12, 2011, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and CMS Administrator Donald Berwick launched a public-private “Partnership for Patients” to improve hospital care and transitions between care settings and reduce health system costs. By the end of 2013, the Partnership is committed to: (1) reducing preventable hospital-acquired conditions by 40% compared to 2010 levels; and (2) decreasing preventable complications during transitions between care settings, thereby reducing hospital readmissions by 20% compared to 2010. According to CMS, over the next three years this initiative could save 60,000 lives and save the health care system $35 billion, including up to $10 billion in Medicare savings. To date, the initiative has been endorsed by more than 500 hospitals, along with physicians and nurses groups, consumer groups, and employers.  As part of this initiative, the CMS Innovation Center intends to dedicate more than $500 million to test and implement models that promote delivery of safer patient care.  Key patient safety areas of focus include: adverse drug events; catheter-associated urinary tract infections; central line associated blood stream infections; injuries from falls and immobility; obstetrical adverse events; pressure ulcers; surgical site infections; venous thromboembolism; ventilator-associated pneumonia; and other hospital-acquired conditions.  CMS also will provide $500 million for a Community-based Care Transition Program (CCTP), as authorized by the ACA. The CCTP will support hospitals and community based organizations in helping Medicare beneficiaries at high risk for readmission to the hospital safely transition from the hospital to other care settings. CMS is now soliciting applications for CCTP funding from eligible community-based organizations and acute care hospitals that partner with community based organizations.