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Medicaid Transformation Project Releases Phase One Report

August 11, 2020

Phase One inspired 150 provider-led actions across 30 health systems to improve care for the vulnerable; Phase Two will focus on the transformational potential of provider and payer partnerships

CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES - Aug 11, 2020 - Today, the Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP) announced the release of its Phase One Report, which summarizes the results of its first two years of work. MTP is led by AVIA with support from Andy Slavitt, former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and General Partner at Town Hall Ventures.

COVID-19 and racial disparities in health have brought national attention to vulnerable communities. Since 2018, a group of innovative health systems has been focused on improving the health of these communities as part of MTP, a national, collaborative effort to transform healthcare and related social needs for the nearly 75 million Americans who rely on Medicaid. MTP has generated over 150 actions across 30 health system Members since its launch, including new apps, virtual visits, and mobile devices to monitor patients, plus operational changes to extend care beyond the four walls of the health system. These endeavors are helping the country address four distinct areas: over-utilization of emergency rooms, access to behavioral health, improved maternal and infant health, and treatment for substance use disorder. The Project vetted over 400 digital health solutions with a rigorous evaluation model, including evidence-based research, to help its Members make informed technology decisions that can improve care delivery for those who need it most.

Phase One Results

Phase One of MTP focused on providers and how they could advance the health of vulnerable communities in high-impact and sustainable ways. Member health systems represent 378 hospitals in 28 states. Phase One findings reveal that Members are embracing new digital solutions and innovative care models across four key areas:

  • 81% of Members are improving care in the community to help people rely less on the emergency department
  • 64% of Members are helping people with acute behavioral health needs
  • 75% of Members are closing gaps in care for moms and babies
  • 38% of Members are increasing access and support for people with substance use disorder

“Healthcare needs to work for everyone. COVID-19, financial hardship, and racial disparities have only heightened the need to improve care for the vulnerable and communities of color,” said Slavitt. “The health systems in MTP strive to be leaders in this fight. Two years ago, they dedicated themselves to serving underserved communities. Using innovation to serve these forgotten populations has never been more important.”

The report reveals that 72% of all actions involve using technology in disruptive but beneficial ways, like providing pregnant moms with an app and monitoring device to remotely collect and send vital information about her pregnancy to her clinicians and access her care team on demand from her mobile phone. MTP produced a best-in-class list of companies that could solve Member challenges and advance evidence-based care models; 43% of these companies are led by women and people of color.

Additional findings, trends, and success stories are available in the full report.

Launching Phase Two

The first phase of MTP set the stage for collaborative action that will have an even greater impact on vulnerable communities. In Phase Two, Member health systems have committed to deepening their work in areas like behavioral health and social determinants of health while also addressing new areas for action on topics that matter, including chronic care management. The Project will reduce barriers by providing business case tools, solution insights, and action plans.

While Phase One focused on health systems, Phase Two will expand the MTP ecosystem and welcome payers, community health centers, and other local/regional partners into the community. Phase Two payer and provider Members will collaborate and coordinate demonstration projects in local markets to drive greater, more sustainable impact. By working together in new ways, payers and providers can accomplish more and bring meaningful change to their vulnerable patients. Several large payers are expected to be announced as Project Members in the next few months.

“Transformation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It was always the vision of the Project to engage these additional partners,” said David Smith, Project Executive of MTP. “We’re excited to take this work to the next level by aligning payers and providers to drive community-wide impact.”

The Medicaid Transformation Project Phase One Report is available for free download.

Health systems, payers, and other organizations interested in joining the Medicaid Transformation Project can visit MedicaidTransformationProject.com or email contact@aviahealthinnovation.com for information.

 

About the Medicaid Transformation Project

The Medicaid Transformation Project is a national effort to transform healthcare and address related social needs for the most vulnerable. Health systems will implement innovative solutions that address challenges like behavioral health and substance use disorder. This will create long-term systemic impact with the goal of improving the health of 75 million Americans.

 

About AVIA

AVIA is the nation's leading digital transformation partner for healthcare organizations. AVIA provides unique market intelligence, proven collaborative tools, and results-based consulting to help solve healthcare’s biggest strategic challenges. Learn more about AVIA and AVIA Connect, the industry’s premier knowledge sharing and collaboration platform for up-to-the-minute digital insights and best practices, at aviahealthinnovation.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

 

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Media Contacts

Aria Marketing for AVIA

Lindsey Honig

(617) 332-9999 x206

lhonig@ariamarketing.com

 

AVIA and MTP

Kate Soden

(312) 999-9600 x652

ksoden@aviahealthinnovation.com