Mississippi Patient Advisory Council Joint Letter

February 8, 2019

Wil ErvinSenior Director, External AffairsMississippi Division of Medicaid550 High StreetSuite 1000Jackson, MS 39201Re: proposed Mississippi Medicaid Patient Advisory CouncilDear Mr. Ervin: Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on the creation of a patient advisory council for Mississippi Medicaid. The undersigned organizations believe the proposed body would be a valuable source of insight into the enrollee experience in the Mississippi Medicaid program and allow patients to share their perspective in pursuit of improving the program for all enrollees. Our advocacy organizations represent adiverse group of patientsand consumerswhoshare a united goal: to improve the livesand healthof the Medicaid beneficiaries we serve byengaging policymakers to ensure that the Medicaid coverage remains affordable, accessible and adequatein Mississippi.As you begin your work to establish this advisory council, we would like to share with youthe following general recommendations.Regarding membership in the council, we strongly recommend that the Division seek out individuals who: Represent a wide-variety of levels of experience with the program, as both new and long-time enrolleesbring important perspectives;Represent the racial, ethnic, gender and geographic diversity of the Mississippi Medicaid populationAre not afraid to express their concerns;Are able not only toreport their own concernsbut who can also collect and report the views of otherlow income individuals and families enrolled in the program; andCome fromareas across the state, with their travel to meetings being reimbursedby the councilor options for remote participation such as video or conference call provided.In particular, we recommend that thecouncil’s members include individuals from the following communities, recognizing that MS Medicaid is a crucial source of care for many families and individuals within these communities: Parent caregivers who would be affected by the proposed work requirements waiver Foster parents of children covered by Medicaid, who are in the custody of child protective servicesRecipients living with chronic conditionssuch as diabetes or cardiovascular disease Recipients living with life-threatening,acute diseases or conditions, includingcancerRecipientscovered by the various managed care payerswho can speak to that experience using the program, alongside recipients covered by traditional Medicaid Representatives of the patient and consumer advocacy community who can help provide policy and programming guidance, such as patient navigatorsor other consumer-facing resourceThank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the creation of a patient advisory council. Should you have any questionsor wish to continue our discussion, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Balog with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at [email protected] 678-852-6383. American Cancer Society –Cancer Action NetworkAmerican Diabetes AssociationAmerican Heart AssociationAmerican Lung AssociationArthritis FoundationCancer Support CommunityCystic Fibrosis FoundationEpilepsy FoundationGlobal Healthy Living FoundationHemophilia Foundation of AmericaLeukemia & Lymphoma SocietyMarch of Dimes National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyNational Organization for Rare DisordersNational Psoriasis FoundationSusan G. Komen Foundation