Background
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) are carefully reviewing the AHEAD Model NOFO. The AHEAD Model is an option that would allow Maryland to continue state-wide efforts to improve healthcare quality and control costs under the Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Model agreement with CMS.
AHEAD is a state total cost of care (TCOC) model that seeks to drive state and regional health care transformation and multi-payer alignment, with the goal of improving the total health of a state population and lowering costs across all payers, including Medicare, Medicaid, and private coverage. The model aims to support the delivery of high-quality care, improved population health, greater care coordination, and advanced health equity by supporting underserved patients. AHEAD aims to increase resources available to participating states to improve the overall health of their population, support primary care, and transform health care in their communities. The federal government released a Notice of Funding Opportunity on November 16, 2023.
More information about the AHEAD Model can be found on CMS's website.
Public Comment Period
Maryland will be accepting public comments on the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Comments are being accepted through an online form through December 1, 2023. HSCRC and MDH expect to hold a second public comment period in 2024.
Advisory Committees
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) plan to convene three committees to advise the State on the future of Maryland’s agreement with CMS, including evaluating the AHEAD Model. These committees will advise the State in the development of the AHEAD NOFO response if the State decides to apply to AHEAD.
The Population Health Transformation Advisory Committee (P-TAC) will provide advice to MDH and HSCRC to transform the state's approach to equity-centered population health improvement.
The Healthcare Transformation Advisory Committee (H-TAC) will provide advice on all-payer cost savings targets, hospital quality improvement, and continued transformation of Maryland’s healthcare delivery system.
The Primary Care Program Transformation Advisory Committee (PCP-TAC) will provide advice on primary care spending targets and the future of a multi-payer aligned primary care program.
Each advisory committee will consider health equity in all of their recommendations.
MDH and HSCRC are currently seeking volunteers with a broad range of expertise to participate on the advisory committees. Individuals can apply to participate in the advisory committees online. Applications are due December 8, 2023.
