Note: These events are open to state agency staff only.
With federal Medicaid work requirements taking effect in 2027, states will spend the next year rapidly designing, integrating, and implementing the technology and data systems needed to support a major shift in how members qualify for and maintain benefits. In order to meet this moment, states need opportunities to talk to one another, ask questions, and share best practices.
To help states make high-value decisions, comply with federal requirements, and minimize unintended coverage loss and other barriers for members, the Center for Health Care Strategies and the Medicaid Innovation Collaborative, a program of Acumen America, are hosting the Medicaid Work Requirements: Tech Implementation and Integration Learning Series. This virtual series is made possible by the Peterson Center on Healthcare, and developed in collaboration with the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program.
Each session combines panel discussions with experts and opportunities for informal Q&A and peer-to-peer exchange among attendees, focusing on technology design, systems integration, and procurement best practices in preparation for Medicaid work requirements. IT systems and policy experts from government agencies and civic tech organizations are sharing their experience to help states develop eligibility and enrollment processes that meet federal and state requirements while supporting member needs.
IT, operations, eligibility and enrollment, and policy staff from Medicaid and other state agencies at all stages of work requirements design and implementation are encouraged to attend. State-only sessions will be announced on a rolling basis (see below)
Session 1 | Feb. 25, 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET: Tech Readiness for Income and Work Verification
This session explored tech solutions and strategies for efficient, cost-effective income and work verification, with a focus on leveraging and enhancing states’ existing Medicaid income verification and eligibility processes. Panelists shared different approaches to technology deployment and systems integration that efficiently leverage and match available data across systems, reduce administrative burden, and support compliance. The second half of the session featured breakout room discussions to allow states to learn from and share with their peers.
Speakers:
- Jeramia Garcia Ramadan, Director of Governance and Innovation, Arizona Department of Economic Security
- Tim Shaw, Director, Benefits Transformation Initiative and Senior Policy Advisor, Aspen Institute Financial Security Program
- Jennifer Wagner, Director of Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Session 2 | Mar. 3, 2:00 – 3:30 pm ET: Nimble Procurement for Work Requirements Tech Systems
This session examined how states can adopt more nimble approaches to procuring and implementing technology to support work requirements. Panelists discussed expedited procurement options, including regulatory and compliance considerations, vendor management strategies, and innovative state approaches.
Speakers:
- Emily Ricci, Deputy Commissioner/Medicaid Director, Alaska Department of Health
- Daniel Varela, Project Analyst, Alaska Department of Health
- Andrea Mueca, Project Manager, Alaska Department of Health
- Tracy Mack, Business Manager, Alaska Department of Health
- Waldo Jaquith, Government Delivery Manager, U.S. Digital Response
Session 3 | Mar. 11, 2:00 – 3:30 pm ET: Data and Analytic Approaches for Medical Frailty Exemptions
This session will explore strategies to use data for automatic verification of medical frailty exemptions from Medicaid work requirements. Speakers will highlight considerations for states related to defining, accessing, and using the Medicaid Management Information System diagnosis, claims, and encounter code definitions for medical frailty. The session will also explore strategies for incorporating other data sources for medical frailty verification — such as managed care organization records, health information exchanges, and all-payer claims databases — and for streamlining non-ex parte verification pathways.
Speakers:
- Sarah Esty, Senior Advisor, Aspen Institute Financial Security Program and Principal, SEE Solutions
- Hannah Katch, Founder and Principal, Katch Strategies
- Ari Ne’eman, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Ben Sommers, Huntley Quelch Professor of Health Care Economics, and Professor of Medicine, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health/Harvard Medical School
