ABSTRACT - The Spring and Fall Workshops of the Medicaid Medical Directors Network (MMDN)
provide an opportunity for members to connect in-person to develop strong networks and create lasting
trusted connections. The in-person meetings act to facilitate interactions between Network members, but
also to connect the membership with federal policymakers, funders, and other subject matter experts or
key partners, as appropriate. While the exact agenda will be determined in concert with the Steering
Committee, we aim to design each meeting to balance informative presentations, peer-to-peer interaction
and problem-solving, and structured and unstructured networking. We anticipate holding the in-person
workshops in the spring and fall of each year (2016-2018).
The Medicaid Medical Directors Network (MMDN) is a vibrant learning community of senior clinical
leaders of state Medicaid programs, who are dedicated to advancing the health of Medicaid beneficiaries.
It’s original iteration, the Medicaid Medical Directors Learning Network, was established in 2005 under
AcademyHealth’s previous Knowledge Transfer and Implementation contract with the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality’s Office of Communications and Knowledge Transfer.
The MMDN provides a forum for these clinical leaders to discuss their most pressing needs and share
best practices, focusing on the development and use of evidence-based medicine, measurement and
improvement of health care quality, and the redesign of health care delivery systems. AcademyHealth
facilitates the MMDN to assist clinical leaders in identifying and applying the latest research findings to
address high priority policy and program issues, especially related to quality assurance, quality
improvement, and coverage decisions. AcademyHealth develops knowledge transfer activities to foster
the exchange of information between researchers and the Medicaid Medical Directors; supports the
MMDN steering committee; and leverages the collective expertise within the MMDN to identify evidence
gaps and inform research priorities.
MMDN workshops are one of many mechanisms to support shared learning, and its objectives are
consistent with AHRQ’s mission to “make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable,
and affordable…and to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.” Conference sessions present
research that can improve policy and practice, patient safety and quality, patient-centered care, and
payment and organization. Because of the Network’s focus on Medicaid, the workshops also center on
AHRQ’s priority populations—low income groups, minority groups, women, children, the elderly,
individuals with disabilities and end-of-life care.