AHEAD Model

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 on November 16, 2023. The AHEAD Model allows 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 Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) successfully applied to participate in the AHEAD Model. On July 2nd, 2024 Governor Wes Moore announced that the MDH and HSCRC received grant funding from CMS to support Maryland’s implementation of the AHEAD Model. The funding and new model will enable Maryland to build on its unique all-payer hospital rate setting system, expanding its focus on primary care, population health, and health equity. The implementation of the AHEAD Model is set to begin on January 1, 2026. For more details, you can read the application and application summary here.

Maryland Commission on Health Equity

The Maryland Commission on Health Equity (MCHE) serves as the official AHEAD Model governance body for Maryland. Meetings are open to the public.

The October MCHE meeting will be held in person at the Herbert R. O'Conor State Office Building, located at 201 W. Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 on October 10, 2024, from 1 pm to 2:30 pm in Conference Room 1. For virtual attendees and members of the public, please find the hybrid details below.

October Maryland Commission on Health Equity Meeting

Thursday, October 10 · 1:00 – 2:30pm

Time zone: America/New_York

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/yug-ggcb-utf

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 347-450-1903‬ PIN: ‪862 429 649‬#

Advisory Committees

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) convened three committees to advise the State on the future of Maryland’s agreement with CMS, including evaluating the AHEAD Model. These committees helped advise the State in the development of the AHEAD NOFO response.

The Population Health Transformation Advisory Committee (P-TAC) provides advice to MDH and HSCRC to transform the state's approach to equity-centered population health improvement.
The Healthcare Transformation Advisory Committee (H-TAC) provides 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) provides advice on primary care spending targets and the future of a multi-payer aligned primary care program.

Advisory Committee Meeting Materials

Advisory Committee	Meeting Dates & Materials
Population Health Transformation Advisory Committee (P-TAC)	Monday, February 5, 2024 at 1:00PM-3:00PM Meeting Materials Meeting Recording Monday, March 4, 2024 at 1:00PM-3:00PM Meeting Materials Meeting Recording Summary of Comments
Healthcare Transformation Advisory Committee (H-TAC)	Friday, January 19, 2024 at 1:00PM-3:00PM Meeting Materials Meeting Recording Friday, February 16, 2024 at 1:00PM-3:00PM Meeting Materials Meeting Recording Summary of Comments Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 8:00AM-10:00AM Meeting Materials Meeting Recording (PW: xH&7iN.*)
Primary Care Program Transformation Advisory Committee (PCP-TAC)	Friday, January 26, 2024 at 8:30AM-10:30AM Meeting Materials Meeting Recording Friday, February 23, 2024 at 8:30AM-10:30AM Meeting Materials Meeting Recording Summary of Comments

Advisory Committee (P-TAC, H-TAC, PCP-TAC) Membership