The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) says it will spend $115 million over the next two years on projects that improve the quality of care for individuals with chronic illnesses in local communities.

Grants in up to 20 communities will be awarded to concentrate resources and improve quality of care, following the model developed in the foundation's Aligning Forces: The Regional Market Project.

Among the chronic diseases previously targeted by the Aligning Forces project are asthma, diabetes, and depression.

"We want to have measurable and meaningful impact on healthcare quality at every level," said RWJF president and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey. "There is no one healthcare system in America, and communities have different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to health care. RWJF can help align the many organizations, government and non-government, at the national level on issues like performance measurement and public reporting. And, we can support the efforts of doctors, nurses, patients, and other stakeholders to achieve high-quality health care in their own communities."