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MEDTAPP (Medicaid Technical Assistance and Policy Program)
MEDTAPP (Medicaid Technical Assistance and Policy Program) is a university Medicaid research partnership combining nonfederal and federal funds to support the efficient and effective administration of the Medicaid program. This formal state-university partnership is driven by a multi-agency agreement between GRC and Ohio’s Department of Medicaid (ODM), Department of Health, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Department of Development Disabilities, and Board of Regents. This multi-agency agreement allows for the expenditure of Medicaid Federal Financial Participation funds to support health and human services research through the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s Medicaid Technical Assistance and Policy Program, and other state general revenue funding sources. This multi-agency agreement establishes funding appropriations to GRC over the state biennium, and all subsequent research projects are authorized under this agreement. Research activities funded through this multiagency agreement are not only implemented by GRC staff, but through multiple subcontracts with expert researchers at Ohio’s seven medical colleges and 13 public universities.
Through Ohio’s formal state-university partnership multi-agency agreement, GRC is allocated Medicaid Federal Financial Participation (FFP) funds and other state general revenue funds to utilize for Ohio HHS agency driven research. The majority of research projects developed and implemented through this multi-agency agreement are through the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s Medicaid Technical Assistance and Policy Program (MEDTAPP). MEDTAPP combines nonfederal and federal funds to support the efficient and effective administration of Ohio’s Medicaid program by implementing innovative research studies. MEDTAPP’s research focus areas include:
1) Health services research and policy;
2) Workforce development;
3) Quality improvement science; and
4) Rapid technical/ clinical consultation.
Specifically, MEDTAPP funding is 50% FFP funds and 50% qualified non-federal funds. Typically qualified non-federal funds include university faculty and facility in-kind support. State general revenue funds, private contributions, and bona fide donations have also been used as qualified non-federal funding sources and FFP cost-share. As a public entity, Ohio State University is responsible for certifying public expenditures in accordance with federal Medicaid policy.
Integrated Physical & Behavioral Health
Because behavioral and physical health are both critical to overall health, federal and state agencies as well as local healthcare providers are collaborating to improve the delivery and coordination of behavioral health services. GRC is leading several research and quality improvement efforts for behavioral health populations. Key areas of focus include access and quality of pediatric psychiatry services for children, use of telemedicine to provide psychiatric services in pediatric primary care settings, integration of primary care services in behavioral health settings, and the prevention and treatment of the inappropriate use of prescription opiates.
Developmental Disabilities
The goal of our collaboration with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, and other disability stakeholders is to provide accurate data and objective research to the disability field. GRC sponsored DD research projects deal with contemporary disability policy issues and promote systemic change to support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. GRC DD- related research has been useful to policymakers in developing beneficial changes for individuals and their families. The GRC works for the benefit of all disability and health-related state agencies and strives to educate the public regarding its policy relevant research.
Maternal and Child Health
Maternal, infant, and child health outcomes are central to both the current and future health of Ohio. To address health care challenges and improve health outcomes for these populations, the State of Ohio has partnered with GRC to implement research and quality improvement programs across the state. Key areas of focus include identifying and testing effective models of care for treating pregnant women, improving perinatal health through quality improvement initiatives aimed at increasing compliance with evidence-based best practices, and increasing postpartum visit rates and type 2 diabetes screenings for women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus.
Health Services Research and Data Analysis
GRC is at the forefront of data survey research. GRC delivers health and healthcare data to public and private organizations, including insight into the health status of Ohio’s Medicaid and Medicaid-eligible populations. Projects provide necessary data to measure the impact issues, most often relevant to the efficient administration of the Ohio Medicaid program.
Workforce Development
Government and private health care delivery systems often face challenges recruiting and retaining the workforce necessary to deliver health care services. These challenges have resulted in several state agencies combining efforts to address this growing need. Our most recent areas of focus include: expanding the workforce to meet growing long term care community support needs and integrated primary physical and behavioral health services; using quality improvement science to support health care practice transformation; and preparing Ohio’s policy leaders and researchers to improve Ohio’s health care delivery system.
