Medicaid health plans are uniquely situated to improve asthma care, particularly for youth in low-income and minority families. Since publishing its first asthma best practices toolkit in 2002, CHCS has worked with numerous health plans and states across the country to develop cost effective methods to improve asthma management.

This toolkit, made possible by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, includes strategies for improving asthma care tested by a diverse group of health plans and states serving Medicaid consumers. Plans engaged in CHCS initiatives have demonstrated innovative techniques to improve member asthma care, including:

• Developing and creatively using asthma registries.
• Using innovative methods to reach high-risk members.
• Offering provider education on member self-management and appropriate prescribing.
• Implementing provider incentives to reward high quality asthma care.