Development of Statewide Health Equity Data Standards in Massachusetts
On Thursday, March 23, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar that reviewed the recent adoption of statewide health equity data standards for the collection of self-reported patient demographic information by provider organizations, Medicaid and commercial insurers in Massachusetts. During the webinar, experts from MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) and Bailit Health reviewed the adopted standards as well as a complementary framework for introducing accountability for advancing health equity into value-based contracting. Panelists also described how Massachusetts engaged a wide array of stakeholders in the development process and the plan for dissemination and adoption.
Ensuring Compliance With Federal Renewal Requirements: State Diagnostic Assessment Tool
As states begin the herculean task of redetermining eligibility for 91 million enrollees in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, they are readying their systems, staff, and vendors that support Medicaid eligibility operations. Using this diagnostic assessment tool, states can take the critical step of evaluating their compliance with federal regulatory requirements for conducting redeterminations and renewals. The tool aims to help states qualify for the sustained enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, avoid corrective action imposed by CMS, promote continuity of coverage and care during unwinding, and make long-term improvements to eligibility and enrollment infrastructure.
Continuous Coverage Unwinding: Enrollee Outreach Videos
These animated videos may be used by states across social media and digital platforms to reach enrollees with important information about the continuous coverage unwinding. Key messages encourage consumers to update their contact information and look in the mail for updates about Medicaid renewals to avoid gaps in their coverage. Videos are created in 15, 30, and 60-second lengths and are available in English and Spanish and can be customized to include state branding.
Protected: The Individual Market in 2023 – Small Group Convening
Slide decks that were shared at the Small Group Convening on the Individual Market in 2023 that was held on March 13 and 14, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA.
Protected: Maternal Health Roundtable
Materials from virtual Maternal Health Roundtable meetings hosted by SHVS in September 2022, February 2023, and March 2024.
Transformational Community Engagement: Working With Community to Advance Health Equity
On Tuesday, February 28, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar that explored how states can implement community engagement strategies that amplify community voices, engage program enrollees, and translate engagement into more effective and equitable health initiatives. Community engagement is a critical component in advancing health equity as it enables trust and respect, improves barriers to health, and allows for efficacy by ensuring programs utilize experiences from the communities they impact. State reactors also highlighted recent Medicaid community engagement efforts.
Infographics on the Unwinding Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA)
These infographics provide an overview of the key changes to the parameters for unwinding enacted by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) as well as an illustrative continuous coverage unwinding timeline under the CAA. The infographics are intended to help states communicate internally or with key stakeholders about the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition provisions in the CAA and can be downloaded to use in communications.
New CMS Guidance on Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
On Wednesday, February 8, State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar during which experts from Manatt Health reviewed CMS’ recently released State Health Official (SHO) letter related to “unwinding” the Medicaid continuous coverage guarantee, based on provisions included in section 5131 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA). The webinar reviewed the additional detail and operational expectations of states during the unwinding of Medicaid continuous coverage as laid out in the SHO letter, and discussed key considerations for state policymakers.
Transformational Community Engagement to Advance Health Equity
Within government, policy and programmatic changes are often made without engaging the people they will affect or the people currently experiencing the challenges of existing policies and programs. Community engagement is one of the ways states are attempting to establish and maintain trust and improve the accessibility and quality of services. This issue brief outlines the ways in which such efforts can improve communication, lead to more effective and efficient programs, and result in ongoing collaboration with people who have experienced state-run systems and services. The brief also contains a list of strategies and tactics, which offers options for states to consider when working to advance towards transformational community engagement and achieve their community engagement goals.
State Examples of Medicaid Community Engagement Strategies: Two Case Studies
Community engagement is a key component of health equity work because it fosters trust and mutual respect, unearths unforeseen or unintended barriers to health, and improves efficacy by ensuring programs respond to the experiences of the people they impact. Yet, there is little documentation of how to successfully engage program enrollees, translate engagement into policy change, or resolve challenges related to the resource-intensive nature of engagement. This issue brief provides two case studies highlighting work in Virginia and Colorado to meet these challenges. Each state has invested in coordinated community engagement strategies that amplify the voices of those directly impacted by Medicaid and leverage their input to drive improvements. This pioneering work offers practical examples of how to structure community engagement to foster participation and improve program outcomes.