National Association of Medicaid Directors

National Association of Medicaid Directors
Name	National Association of Medicaid Directors
Abbreviation	NAMD
Formation	2003
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States
Membership	State Medicaid agency directors
Leader title	Executive Director

National Association of Medicaid Directors The National Association of Medicaid Directors is a professional association representing state Medicaid agency directors across the United States. It engages in policy analysis, technical assistance, and advocacy related to Medicaid implementation, healthcare delivery, and public health finance. The organization interfaces with federal agencies, state governments, health systems, and nonprofit organizations to coordinate Medicaid policy, program design, and innovation.

History

The association was formed in 2003 amid policy debates surrounding the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, and subsequent Affordable Care Act implementation discussions. Early activities intersected with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Management and Budget, and congressional committees such as the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways and Means. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s the association engaged with actors including the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Commonwealth Fund to analyze Medicaid expansion under state choices influenced by rulings like National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. The group’s timeline includes coordination during national events such as the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, the 2008 financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, collaborating with entities like Federal Emergency Management Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Organization and Governance

The association is structured with an executive office and a board drawing from state Medicaid leadership, modeled with practices comparable to organizations such as the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the National Governors Association. Governance documents align with standards used by the Council of State Governments and echo legal frameworks considered by the Legal Services Corporation and the Bureau of Labor Statistics in workforce policy. The board sets strategic priorities and forms committees similar to those in the American Public Health Association and the Association for Community Affiliated Plans, coordinating with federal partners including the Department of Health and Human Services and advisory groups like the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission.

Membership and Leadership

Membership comprises Medicaid directors from states, territories, and commonwealths, a roster analogous to membership rolls of the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Leaders have included health policy professionals who previously served in offices such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and state agencies like the California Department of Health Care Services and the New York State Department of Health. The association convenes annual meetings that attract participants from the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, and academic centers such as Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Policy Activities and Advocacy

The association engages in policy development and advocacy on topics intersecting with legislation like the Social Security Act and federal rules issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It offers technical briefs and comment letters to the United States Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Government Accountability Office on issues including eligibility, benefits, managed care, behavioral health, and long‑term services and supports. The group collaborates with coalitions such as the National Association of Counties, American Association of Health Plans, and the Council on State Taxation to influence federal rulemaking and appropriations tied to legislation like the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Policy positions reference research from institutions such as the Urban Institute, the Brookings Institution, and the RAND Corporation.

Programs and Initiatives

The association runs technical assistance programs, learning collaboratives, and policy academies comparable to initiatives by the AcademyHealth and the National Academy for State Health Policy. Programmatic areas include Medicaid expansion support, value‑based payment models, behavioral health integration, social determinants of health efforts, and Medicaid eligibility modernization—work that intersects with initiatives from Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program and State Innovation Models. The association has convened topic‑specific workgroups on maternal health, substance use disorder, telehealth, and home‑ and community‑based services, aligning with federal priorities from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding and partnerships draw from a mix of member dues, foundation grants, and collaborations with organizations like the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Commonwealth Fund. The association partners with federal agencies including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services for cooperative projects, and it works with academic partners such as Georgetown University and Columbia University for research and evaluation. Corporate and provider stakeholders including the Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, CVS Health, American Hospital Association, and state Medicaid managed care plans participate in conferences and technical forums.

Category:Healthcare organizations based in Washington, D.C. Category:Medicaid in the United States