Projects

Catalyzing State Medicaid Leadership on Climate Change Mitigation

2023

Project Overview

Objective

To inspire, inform, catalyze, and equip state Medicaid agencies to take a leading role in reducing harmful greenhouse gases produced by the health system.

Project Motivation

State Medicaid agencies are well positioned to reduce the health system’s harmful greenhouse gas emissions but face challenges in taking effective action. This project explores innovative ways payors can lower the health risks the health system generates while improving equity and sustainability.

Prepared For

The Commonwealth Fund

Climate change is a top threat to health and health systems alike. Yet, the U.S. health system is also a top producer of the harmful greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change—conflicting with its core mission to protect the public’s health.

State Medicaid agencies are well positioned to reduce the U.S. health system’s harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and some are beginning to consider how they can do so. Now, the Commonwealth Fund is seeking to better understand the efforts these pioneering state agencies are exploring so it can then raise awareness among other states of the opportunities, benefits, and efficiencies they can achieve by reducing emissions and related health risks.

Mathematica is working with the Commonwealth Fund to inspire, inform, catalyze, and equip state Medicaid agencies to become leaders in reducing the harmful greenhouse gases the health system generates. To do so, Mathematica will: 

  • Identify states that are poised to lead on reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the health system
  • Explore policies and initiatives these states have considered or enacted to lower emissions and make the health system more sustainable
  • Highlight promising practices, innovative ideas, and insights to equip state Medicaid agencies to take action toward decreasing the risks and harm caused by the health system’s greenhouse gas emissions 

Related Staff

Paul Shattuck

Paul Shattuck

Senior Fellow

View Bio Page
Corrie Haley

Corrie Haley

Senior Managing Consultant

View Bio Page
Raga  Ayyagari

Raga Ayyagari

Researcher

View Bio Page
Courtney Cappalli

Courtney Cappalli

Managing Consultant

View Bio Page
Emily Harrison

Emily Harrison

Researcher

View Bio Page
Colleen Psomas

Colleen Psomas

Senior Communications Specialist

View Bio Page
Emily Cross

Emily Cross

Researcher

View Bio Page

See Clearly. Act Quickly.

From local to global challenges in health, human services, and international development, we’re here to improve public well-being and make progress together. Learn more about becoming a Mathematica client or partner.

Work With Us