Policy
With the insight and perspective of our members, the Quality Institute’s policy work spans areas such as payment reform and child and maternal health. We advise legislators and other decision makers on insurance policy, health care technology and strategies to improve patient care and population health. We help mayors create a culture of health in their communities and we facilitate family and community conversations about end-of-life care. A signature program, the Medicaid Policy Center, was launched in 2019 to identify national best practices and leading-edge solutions to improve and modernize the state’s Medicaid program.
The Medicaid Policy Center (MPC) is dedicated to advancing the quality and cost effectiveness — and long-term sustainability — of the New Jersey Medicaid program to improve the health and wellness of New Jersey residents.
The MPC delivers independent research, analysis and policy solutions to improve health outcomes while also controlling costs — and works in partnership with other organizations and the state government agencies that operate the New Jersey Medicaid program.
The new center benefits from the Quality Institute’s tradition of bringing people from all corners of health care together to collaborate on innovative solutions to improve the state’s health care system.
As part of the Quality Institute’s engagement with health policy leaders in New Jersey, we are focused on how to improve access and coverage for everyone. We are concerned with the downward spiral we are seeing in New Jersey’s small employer market (groups of 2-50 full time equivalent employees). While significant steps have been taken to improve affordability and access for those getting coverage through Medicaid and the individual market, small group employers struggle to provide quality and affordable coverage for their employees.
We released a white paper explaining the enrollment history of this market, the challenges it faces, and a comprehensive package of short and long steps to improve the quality and affordability of coverage for small businesses and their employees.
Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), in partnership with New Jersey Medicaid, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute and the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, has entered into a collaborative agreement with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish the NJ Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) model. Working with those who provide primary care to children in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, NJ InCK will test an Alternative Payment Model (APM), for NJ Family Care programs, by providing payment for screening and provision of integrated community-based core child health services.