The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced 25 awardees of its State Innovation Models Initiative. Funding is intended to support the testing and development of state-based healthcare systems that reinforce the quality of cost-effective care. Specifically, six states that are ready to implement their State Health Care Innovation Plans received over $250 million in Model Testing awards (Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and Vermont); three states were granted funds to continue work on their plans through Model Pre-Testing awards (Colorado, New York, and Washington); and sixteen states received Model Design awards (click here for the list of recipients) to fund development of their plans which will be used to apply for an anticipated second round of Model Testing awards. Words for Good® Principal Stacie Harting Marsh was privileged to serve as lead writer for the State of Hawaii’s successful $937,691 Model Design application (in contract with McAllister & Quinn).