The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has announced it will soon award multiple contracts to Hospital Engagement Contractors (HECs) charged with assisting acute-care institutions in enhancing patient safety. The Administration says it is making up to $500 million available for this effort, which is part of the larger Partnership for Patients that was announced this spring. The goal of the public-private Partnership is to reduce harm in hospital settings by 40 percent and to reduce hospital readmissions by 20 percent over a three-year period. For more information, visit www.cms.gov.