The Trust aims to ensure that a strong infrastructure exists to educate consumers, understand the experiences of Medicaid enrollees, and share information among stakeholders as the state shifts to managed care and pilots new approaches to addressing social drivers of poor health. Organizations engaging directly with consumers can inform underserved populations about their rights and options, as well as identify barriers faced by patients as new payment models are implemented.  To inform systemic improvements it is important that consumer experiences be shared regularly with stakeholders such as health care providers, insurers, state agencies, and nonprofits. These connections should form a robust feedback network where consumers are informed of changes in Medicaid and stakeholders hear about the challenges faced by patients accessing care. This feedback loop can spur fixes that facilitate health improvement for residents with low incomes.

The Trust may support several approaches to meeting this goal. Applicants could include, but is not limited to, consumer advocacy or legal service organizations, groups with experience convening health care stakeholders, or other nonprofits with expertise in Medicaid and patient engagement.