Equity Impact Tool
A tool intended to guide state health agencies in evaluating their equity work at a high level, defining goals, and identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges related to meeting those goals.
On January 15, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released updated State Health Official letter and Frequently Asked Questions guidance, replacing a previously issued SHO letter and FAQs on the requirement in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 that states provide 12 months of continuous eligibility for children and youth under the age of 19 in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, effective as of January 1, 2024.
Medicaid Beneficiary Advisory Councils (BACs) are an important mechanism by which states can implement transformational community engagement within their Medicaid programs. The process of publicly and transparently documenting and reporting BAC activities is key to building trusted relationships, as well as documenting and measuring success of this group. States can customize the content of these materials, which include data collection templates for: BAC member composition, BAC meeting data, BAC discussion topics, BAC recommendations, and BAC member engagement.
This toolkit is intended to support states in planning for implementation of provisions in the Medicaid Program: Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services final rule to establish a Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC) and Medicaid Advisory Committee. States may use the Toolkit to inform the development of a governance model for the BAC, identify key steps and timelines for implementation and assign roles and responsibilities for state staff implementing the BAC.