To support the development of high-performing state health coverage programs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established the Medicaid and CHIP Learning Collaboratives (MAC Collaboratives). These collaboratives brought together state and federal partners to address common challenges and pursue innovations in Medicaid program design and operations. Collaborative workgroups, each consisting of six to 12 states plus federal partners and national experts, addressed topics critical to establishing a solid health insurance infrastructure.
Under this CMS initiative, CHCS oversaw the Value-Based Purchasing MAC Collaborative to provide a forum for states and CMS partners to advance delivery system models that more effectively linked payment to improved quality. The collaborative focused on key topics to drive more accountable delivery models in Medicaid including:
- Supporting integrated care models, including ways to improve care and lower costs in non-risk based arrangements;
- Leveraging existing managed care delivery systems to facilitate value-based purchasing and payment modernization efforts; and
- Developing Medicaid quality strategies for value-based purchasing that link data collection, analytics, and produce evidence of effectiveness.
CHCS developed a variety of tools and resources to support Medicaid stakeholders in advancing value-based purchasing goals. Explore the MAC Collaboratives State Toolbox at Medicaid.gov for more information.
The MAC Collaboratives activities were coordinated by Mathematica Policy Research, the Center for Health Care Strategies, and Manatt Health Solutions, with additional assistance from external experts and in close association with CMS.