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Access

One of the key tests of the effectiveness of a health care coverage program is whether it provides access to appropriate health care services in a timely manner and whether those services promote health improvements. Learn more about MACPAC’s work on access to care for Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries.

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Featured Publications

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Transitions to Adult Coverage: Recommendations and Updated Implications

May 7, 2026

In April 2026, MACPAC staff presented a draft chapter for the June 2026 report to Congress and six recommendations to improve coverage transitions for children and youth with special health care needs. In May, staff presented a summary of all six recommendations for a Commissioner vote. This presentation included updated information about the federal spending […]

Access to Care for Medicaid-Enrolled Youth in Foster Care

March 12, 2026

Chapter 4 of the March 2026 report provides an overview of how Medicaid meets the needs of children in child welfare. Children and youth in the child welfare system represent a small but highly vulnerable segment of the Medicaid-enrolled population. The chapter includes background information about children and youth in foster care, their health status, […]

Automation in the Medicaid Prior Authorization Process: Policy Options

March 5, 2026

MACPAC conducted a literature review, a federal policy review, and stakeholder interviews on the role of automation in the Medicaid prior authorization (PA) process. During this session, we reviewed findings and challenges that surfaced in this research, including the extent to which automation is already in use in Medicaid PA; the availability of information and […]