For many Americans, taking prescription medications is part of everyday life. Nearly 75 percent of the population takes at least one prescription medication daily, and 29 percent take five or more. Despite these numbers, there is scant guidance available to help people ... more
Office-based primary care physicians often can’t keep up with and serve all the medical, social, pharmaceutical, nutritional, and behavioral health needs of older adults with multiple chronic conditions. That can contribute to these patients experiencing a high rate ... more
Primary care is the essential backbone of any health care system, particularly for low-income populations. Across the United States, a variety of advanced primary care models — including patient-centered medical homes, Medicaid accountable care organizations, and Comp... more
Medicaid accountable care organizations (ACOs) are designed to improve health care quality while delivering more efficient care. But, medical care is only one of several factors affecting health outcomes. Social determinants of health (SDOH), such as living environment ... more
In several states across the country, Medicaid accountable care organization (ACO) programs have been operating for more than five years now. Lessons from those early adopters are being used to enhance existing state programs as well as inform states that are newly purs... more
Across the US, it is nearly impossible to open a newspaper and not find an article about the opioid epidemic. Its impact is ubiquitous — families, communities, and states all feel its effect. Opioids, however, are not the only addictive substance impacting Americans. ... more
Finding time for organizational development can seem impossible in the busy world of Medicaid agencies, but strengthening the ability of staff to lead in an environment where they don’t always have control over strategic priorities is critical for success. In Medicai... more
Transitional care programs can help address critical gaps in care for people with complex needs moving between locations of care, such as from hospital to home. Yet, transitional care programs vary widely, both in terms of what services they provide, and whether servic... more
Last month, CHCS’ blog explored the broad take-up of Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) opportunities in Medicaid programs across the nation; this latest blog post looks at selected DSRIP innovations in New York. A number of innovative health c... more
High-quality primary care is a critical tool to advance health equity within Medicaid. To support higher-quality, more equitable primary care, there is growing consensus that payment reform is necessary. Medicaid primary care populati... more
In April, Vermont released an RFP for its Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (Vermont Next Gen ACO) program. Under this program, Vermont plans to build on the state’s existing Medicaid ACO model, the Vermont Medicaid Shared Savings Program (VMSSP), which sa... more
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are well positioned to strengthen behavioral health services for children, youth, and their families by aligning their work with the System of Care (SOC) approach. The SOC framework — built on family‑ and youth... more
