Advocates’ Medicaid Study Group offers recommendations for Medicaid shared savings reform

Over a dozen Connecticut independent consumer advocates representing diverse populations and issue areas spent the last several months diving deep into Medicaid shared savings and today released recommendations for our state’s program. The Medicaid Study Group formed early in 2015 in response to a request from the Co-Chairs of the Medicaid Council’s Care Management Committee to the committee consult with colleagues to give guidance to the Department of Social Services in redesigning our state’s Medicaid program to incorporate a shared savings payment model. The Group researched the available literature, other state Medicaid programs, and the experience of other shared savings programs, among other sources. The Group’s 76 recommendations are designed to protect consumers and taxpayers from unintended harm, avoid higher spending as in other shared savings programs, improve the quality of care, and ensure integrity and accountability. The recommendations cover administration & governance, payment & financing, network requirements, and quality. Final details for the RFP are due October 5^th; advocates are concerned about the rushed timeline and the risk of imprudent decisions.