Learning Collaboratives to Support the Development of High-Performing State Health Coverage Programs

Mathematica has created products for states that directly support policy implementation on a variety of topics, such as eligibility and enrollment, justice-involved populations, continuity of coverage for youth formerly in foster care, postpartum coverage, and systems and analysis. Our recent work includes developing resources on (1) preventing inappropriate terminations in Medicaid during and beyond the COVID-19 PHE, (2) creating a disaster preparedness toolkit for state Medicaid and CHIP agencies with state strategies, legislative requirements, and additional state flexibilities, (3) providing step-by-step advice for identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and addressing program integrity risks associated with unwinding PHE provisions, and (4) using data from the Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System and Medicaid and CHIP Performance Indicators to monitor the health of states’ information technology systems. To support CMCS operations, Mathematica analyzes data on timely topics of interest, including the monthly Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment Trend Snapshot. On behalf of CMCS, Mathematica has hosted numerous webinars to share learning across states and to provide technical assistance on the tools and guidance developed. This project has been a valuable forum for identifying states’ needs for developing and clarifying policy and has encouraged peer-to-peer learning between states about promising practices.

Mathematica is also helping CMCS work with states as they prepare to resume pre-pandemic eligibility and enrollment operations when the COVID-19 PHE ends. This work includes coordination support; engaging states and providing technical assistance; developing and implementing a data strategy to monitor the unwinding of PHE coverage provisions; and creating advanced analytic tools to support monitoring, evaluation, and learning, as well as program operations. Mathematica has also helped CMCS develop new state reporting requirements and created a data visualization dashboard where CMCS can monitor states’ progress with unwinding. As part of this support, Mathematica also manages two help desks to triage and respond to states’ issues and questions.