HillTopic Archive

The value propositions for Medicaid agencies and public universities make a strong case for state agency-university partnerships, but another important relationship to consider is the partnership between university leadership and the research center that performs policy research and data analytics for the state Medicaid agency. As outlined in this series’ inaugural blog, the role, governance, organizational structure, and staffing of research centers in the AcademyHealth State-University Partnership Learning Network (SUPLN) vary; however, a center’s effectiveness depends on a mutually beneficial…


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The New York Times partnered with Hilltop senior data scientist Morgan Henderson, PhD, and policy analyst Morgane Mouslim, DVM ScM, on an August 22, 2021 front-page article on hospital pricing. The article highlights variations in the prices some of the largest hospitals in the country charge different insurance companies for the same procedure. What is more, the “cash price” for uninsured patients can be higher or lower than the negotiated rates charged to insurers. A companion article shows just how…


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Maryland has made substantial progress in “rebalancing” Medicaid expenditures for long-term services and supports from institutional care to home and community-based services (HCBS). In FY 2019, Maryland Medicaid delivered HCBS to an estimated 19,440 adults aged 18 and older with chronic conditions and physical disabilities at a cost of $485 million. From FY 2013 to FY 2019, the number of Medicaid participants using HCBS increased by 39%, and the number of nursing home residents declined by 3%. Yet the registry…


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The Hilltop Institute’s “Predicting Avoidable Hospital Events” model—otherwise known as the Hilltop Pre-AH Model™—originally began with a lunch. In mid-2018, Ian Stockwell, PhD—head of the analytics & research team  here at Hilltop—and Howard Haft, MD—executive director of the Maryland Primary Care Program (MDPCP)—met over lunch to discuss the newly established MDPCP. This program is a key element of Maryland’s Total Cost of Care Model and is intended to help primary care providers practice advanced primary care. One of the central…


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As a public university, UMBC is dedicated to integrating teaching, research, and service to benefit the citizens of Maryland. The Hilltop Institute—through our longstanding partnership with the Maryland Medicaid program and our mission to advance the health and wellbeing of people and communities through research and analysis—exemplifies UMBC’s commitment to public service. Hilltop’s partnership with the Maryland Medicaid program is built on a foundation of mutual trust, a spirit of collaboration, and a shared commitment to increasing access to affordable…


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