HMA Community Strategies conducted an assessment of unmet mental health needs of people living with HIV in Los Angeles County. The study aimed to understand behavioral health service utilization and the role that facility staff and institutional structures play in charting the trajectory of clients. The assessment includes the breadth of experiences and perspectives represented … Read More
The 22nd annual Medicaid budget survey released: pandemic continues to shape priorities
October 26, 2022
The 22nd annual Medicaid Budget Survey conducted by The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and Health Management Associates (HMA) was released on October 25, 2022, in the report: How the Pandemic Continues to Shape Medicaid Priorities: Results from an Annual Medicaid Budget Survey for State Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023. The report was prepared by Kathleen Gifford, Aimee … Read More
System integration across child welfare, behavioral health, and Medicaid
October 24, 2022
Children and families involved in the behavioral health and child welfare systems are often the most vulnerable and in need of intensive supports. Fragmented systems of care across child welfare, behavioral health, and Medicaid often cause families “to fall through the cracks,” leading to increased use of high-cost services that separate families and results in … Read More
HMA consultants author Well Being Trust brief, “Naloxone for Overdose Reversal: Challenges and Opportunities”
September 15, 2022
Efforts to reduce America’s opioid-related overdose deaths are being hampered by glaring inconsistencies in U.S. policies and practices from one region, health system, and community to another. So states a new Well Being Trust brief, “Naloxone for Overdose Reversal: Challenges and Opportunities,” written by HMA consultants Barry Jacobs and Helena Whitney, released September 15, 2022. … Read More
Bolstering the youth behavioral health system: innovative state policies to address access & parity
August 16, 2022
With 1 in 5 children experiencing a mental health condition every year and only 54 percent of non-institutionalized youth enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP receiving mental health treatment, the HMA team of Caitlin Thomas-Henkel, Uma Ahluwalia, Devon Schechinger and Debbi Witham have authored the first in a series of briefs focused on enhancing the youth … Read More
HMA series of issue briefs outline Medicare savings proposals
August 4, 2022
In a series of issue briefs outlining Medicare savings proposals, Jennifer Podulka examines federal budget pressures and impending insolvency of the Medicare Trust Fund that will require Congress to choose between reducing provider or Medicare Advantage plan payments, increasing dedicated income, modifying beneficiary cost sharing, or some combination of these options. Successful Centers for Medicare … Read More
Edrington Health Consulting, an HMA company authors “Investing in Primary Care: Why it Matters for Californians with Medi-Cal Coverage”
July 28, 2022
California Health Care Foundation released a new study authored by the Edrington Health Consulting, an HMA company, Investing in Primary Care: Why it Matters for Californians with Medi-Cal Coverage, that highlights the critical role primary care plays for patients in Medi-Cal. The study encompasses 5.4 million Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal managed care, or nearly half … Read More
HMA and National Council for Mental Wellbeing release issue brief on diversity in the behavioral health workforce
July 13, 2022
The third issue brief, in a series by HMA and National Council colleagues that examines the workforce crisis facing the country’s behavioral health system, highlights the access and service delivery challenges presented and exacerbated by health disparities and inequities. The brief focuses on the need to recruit, train, and retain a diverse workforce in order … Read More
Learning from COVID-19-related flexibilities: moving toward more person-centered Medicare and Medicaid programs
March 23, 2022
A new person-centered assessment framework and issue brief, authored by HMA experts in conjunction with Manatt Health, examine the temporary regulatory Medicare and Medicaid flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and aimed at ensuring access to care for older adults and people with chronic conditions and disabilities. As these temporary flexibilities are … Read More
Issue brief examines greater flexibility for primary care models
March 7, 2022
An issue brief released today outlines new Medicare payment models that offer greater flexibility and aim to shift more care to primary care models, moves that can improve quality and reduce costs. HMA authors, Jennifer Podulka, Yamini Narayan, and Lynea Holmes found the two newest primary care payment models, Global and Professional Direct Contracting (which … Read More