Medicaid leaders are responsible for operating health coverage programs that serve more than 80 million individuals across the nation and administering upwards of $600 billion in state and federal funds. There are few opportunities at the state and territory level, howe... more
Across the nation, public and private payers are combining forces to encourage providers in a given health care market to deliver more efficient, higher quality care. Multi-payer alignment can include payment policies, quality measurement, administrative practices, an... more
The Center for Health Care Strategies' Regional Quality Improvement (RQI) initiative was designed to leverage Medicaid's significant purchasing power to improve chronic illness care through partnerships with commercial insurers, employers, providers, and consumer organi... more
A small portion of Medicaid beneficiaries with significant health care needs drive the majority of program expenditures. In response, a number of states are developing increasingly sophisticated approaches to improve care and control costs for aged, blind and disabled a... more
Children involved in the nation's child welfare system often have significant health care needs, including physical, dental, and especially, behavioral health needs, with accompanying high expenditures. As the primary source of funding for physical and behavioral health... more
On November 1, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final regulations governing the implementation of the Medicaid primary care rate increase to Medicare levels for 2013 and 2014. This CHCS Policy Update provides a summary of the reg... more
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) presents a new opportunity for Medicaid programs to develop health homes for patients with multiple chronic conditions and/or severe mental illness. Through health homes, Medicaid can reimburse for critical services: comprehensive care mana... more
Over the next two decades, analysts project that states will collectively spend nearly $1.6 trillion dollars for long-term care supports and services (LTSS) for elderly and disabled citizens and the federal government will contribute an additional $2.1 trillion, for a t... more
While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) does not focus explicitly on health literacy, the law's success arguably calls for a redoubling of national efforts to address the issue. Nearly 36 percent of America's adult population is considered functionally illiterate, with rate... more
Children in the child welfare system typically have extensive health care needs, including significant behavioral and chronic physical health issues. Vulnerable to frequent disruptions in living situations, these children often experience fluctuating access to health ca... more
States are increasingly using managed care to provide accountable “medical homes” for Medicaid beneficiaries, not only for children and families, but also for adults with chronic conditions and seniors. Today's definition of managed care, however, has broadened beyo... more
Adults with chronic conditions make up approximately 40 percent of the Medicaid population. Yet costs for their care account for more than 80 percent of Medicaid's expenditures. While a limited number of innovative approaches for caring for this population are being pil... more
