As states pursue health care transformation initiatives to achieve better outcomes, Medicaid programs increasingly recognize the need to improve access to high-quality, cost-effective specialty care. By working with specialist teams at an academic medical center to enhance primary care capacity in local communities, Project ECHO® expands specialty care access in underserved areas, increasing the likelihood that patients get the care they need, when they need it, without having to rely on referrals and travelling long distances. Project ECHO enables more effective use of existing health care resources, and can support states’ efforts to achieve better outcomes and reduce costs in Medicaid.

This fact sheet is designed for ECHO hub leaders who are interested in building the case for Medicaid financing with their state policymakers. It includes a primer on the Medicaid program and outlines considerations for engaging Medicaid officials. This resource complements the Project ECHO Medicaid Financing Options brief, which provides detailed examples and options for financing ECHO through Medicaid.