The Mississippi Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) is a federally mandated committee that advises the Division of Medicaid about health and medical care services. By law, the committee must include Board-certified physicians and other representatives of the health professions who are familiar with the medical needs of low-income population groups, members of consumer groups, including Medicaid beneficiaries and consumer organizations, and the director of the public welfare department or the public health department. Here is Mississippi Medicaid’s most recent list of MCAC members.
The MCAC will meet this Friday, December 8, at 1 p.m. in Room 216 of the State Capitol Building (400 High Street, Jackson, MS 39201). The agenda is as follows:
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of meeting minutes from September 22, 2023
IV. Old Business
• Medicaid Programmatic Updates
V. New Business
• Child Access to Mental Health and Psychiatry (CHAMP) Program
• Mississippi Pediatric Dentists’ Access to Advanced Anesthesia Services for MS DOM Beneficiaries
• Maternal Health
VI. Adjournment
Families as Allies is a partner in the CHAMP Project, and we are excited that CHAMP is on the agenda. Any medical care provider in the state who sees children can call CHAMP for a free telephone consult with a child psychiatrist, child psychologist, counselor who works with children or resource specialist. Families as Allies helps CHAMP respond to school issues and connect families to resources. We believe it helps more children have a medical home and experience better outcomes. We also think it likely saves the state money because it helps children stay in their homes and schools.
We encourage you to attend the MCAC meeting. It’s a great way to learn more about the Division of Medicaid and the policies affecting children and families. While the meeting is open to the public, it won’t be available online. We have recommended to the Division of Medicaid that all meetings include virtual options and public comment periods. We look forward to exploring these recommendations more with Medicaid and the committee.
We also strongly support federal recommendations to restructure Medicaid advisory committees to increase beneficiary and family partnerships. You can read more about those proposed changes and our public comments about them in this blog from July 2023.
We look forward to seeing you at 1 p.m. this Friday, December 8, in Room 216 at the State Capitol Building for the Medicaid Medical Care Advisory Committee.