Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC) Annual Report Toolkit

Emily Zylla, Andrea Stewart, and Elizabeth Lukanen, SHADAC

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Access Rule (§ 431.12) requires states to publish an Annual Medicaid Advisory Committee Report, a critical component of which is a distinct section dedicated to describing the activities of the Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC). The first of these annual reports is due by July 9, 2026.

This toolkit includes a variety of resources to guide states in creating and formatting the BAC section of the Annual Report, including:

• [Download] BAC Annual Report Guide: A strategic framework for the BAC section of the Annual Report that demonstrates how states can adhere to the mandated reporting elements while also facilitating a meaningful feedback loop among key stakeholders.
• [Download] BAC Annual Report Template: A customizable Annual Report outline that frames potential report sections and offers detailed guidance on the information needed to meet requirements. Designed to be flexible, allowing states to modify the structure to fit their specific needs.
• [Download] BAC Effectiveness Assessment Survey Tool: A resource designed to evaluate the quality of BAC engagement, featuring a ready-to-use survey instrument and data collection guide.

States can customize and brand any of the tools included in this toolkit, or for additional customization support please contact SHVS. Also refer to the SHVS Medicaid Beneficiary Advisory Council Reporting Toolkit for additional resources designed to support state Medicaid agencies in proactively collecting and documenting BAC activities.