The Medicaid Program is the foundation of the health care safety net in the US. As the largest health insurance program in the country, it provides coverage for critical services to more than 70 million people.
With total expenditures of over $430 billion in fiscal year 2012, it is also a key player in our nation’s economy. Yet, despite its vital importance and nearly 50 years in existence, there is currently no comprehensive, standardized framework for measuring the quality of care provided to Medicaid patients.
The Medicaid Program is unique in that it is federally mandated and partially funded by the federal government, but it is implemented and designed on a state-by-state basis. Without a standardized measurement framework, states have few ways to compare their program with others.
