ACHs will evaluate health needs within their region, take local action on those needs, and where appropriate, advise state agencies. Given Medicaid’s importance to health, ACHs will join others in providing feedback on the design and operation of the program, and how it might be improved, particularly from a local perspective.
As Medicaid changes to better integrate physical and behavioral health care, and to link clinical care with other community services, the collective, multi-sector insights of ACHs will be critical to designing a supportive payment structure. However, ultimate legal and financial responsibility for Medicaid contracting, including monitoring and oversight, will remain with the state.
Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are active participants in ACHs throughout the state, and some have contributed funding and other resources. Independent of their participation in ACHs, however, the state will continue to contract with MCOs as the risk-bearing entities for Medicaid. There is no intent to transfer this risk-bearing function to ACHs.
More details on expectations surrounding the ACH-MCO partnership can be found on the Healthier Washington website.