MACPAC staff examined the role of medical care advisory committees (MCACs) in supporting state Medicaid agency efforts to incorporate the beneficiary voice into their programs. Policymakers can engage with beneficiaries to develop a deeper understanding of the issues that affect their access and use of the Medicaid program and co-create appropriate solutions to address these issues. Federal rules require each state Medicaid agency to establish an MCAC that consists of beneficiaries or consumer group representatives (42 CFR 431.12). MACPAC contracted with RTI International to examine how states use MCACs to engage beneficiaries, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, to inform programs, policies, and operations.
This presentation provided an overview of the federal statute and regulations related to MCACs and recent proposed federal actions to implement changes to these regulations. Staff shared key findings and challenges with beneficiary engagement on MCACs, including policy options on how state Medicaid agencies can improve the beneficiary experience on MCACs and actions the federal government can take to help states.