2023 Annual Evaluation Summary
I. Introduction
Meridian provides Medicaid services to members in Michigan. Our mission is to transform the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time. Meridian’s Quality Improvement (QI) Program builds activities to make sure members get quality care. Meridian does an Annual Evaluation that involves:
- Health Care Effectiveness of Data and Information Systems (HEDIS®)
- Member experience through the Consumer Assessment of Health Plan Survey (CAHPS®)
- Doctor Satisfaction
- Disease Management
- Physical Health
- Mental Health
- Dental and Vision
- Health Equity
II. Population Overview
Meridian has four Medicaid programs serving the lower peninsula of Michigan. Members may be put into one of our programs based on their needs.
- Children Special Health Care Services (CSHCS)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABAD)
- Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP)
III. Quality Improvement (QI) Program
Meridian’s QI program goal is for members to get high quality and cost-effective health care that is covered and to create helpful programs and supports based on our members’ needs.
All QI activities and programs involve all demographic groups, benefit packages, care settings, and service zones.
The QI program has built many plans to help health results for members. In 2023, Meridian worked with community and provider partners across the state. These partners help meet the needs of specific areas and carry out health plan programs. In addition, all Meridian Staff get trained on QI practices and patient safety.
IV. Quality Improvement Activities and Outcomes
Meridian has carried out several QI-related activities to improve health results for members.
- Lead Screening and Interventions- Meridian works to connect members with high lead levels to providers and health departments. Our goal is to stop childhood lead exposure and provide help to those with high lead levels. Outreach is done by member mailings, rewards, reaching out by phone, and provider education.
- Low Birth Weight Performance Improvement Project (PIP)- During 2023, the Low-Birth-Weight PIP focused on addressing barriers, community partners, and training to members. Meridian partnered with Birth Detroit, Black Mother’s Breastfeeding Association, A Girl Like Me, and Southeast Michigan Perinatal Quality Improvement Coalition (SEMPQIC), Revive, Brilliant Detroit, Detroit Health Department, and Great Start Collaborative. To support members who need behavioral health support, Meridian partnered with Michigan Child Collaborative Care (MC3). This program offers free behavioral health counseling to pregnant and postpartum individuals with rapid turnaround times for the initiation of care. Meridian also delivered baby boxes to members that had educational materials and baby items inside.
- Prenatal Care Performance Improvement Project- To help increase prenatal care and overcome racial disparities, Meridian offers trainings and rewards to members and doctors. Meridian has also worked to grow provider networks to raise member access. Meridian is working with Centene’s Smart Start for Baby (SSFB) program, which engages members to improve obstetrical care services, reduce complications with pregnancy. This includes premature deliveries and low birth weight deliveries.
- Dental Initiatives- To improve dental care for members, Meridian completes phone outreach to Healthy Michigan Members to increase our HEDIS® Annual Dental Visit rates, along with mail, email, and Community Health Outreach Worker (CHW) outreach to educate on dental benefits. Meridian has also partnered with DentaQuest to implement a “Summer Smiles” program. This included a member and provider rewards, mailings, texting, and appointment scheduling help. DentaQuest helped with member outreach and connected members to in-network dental providers near them.
- Health Equity Program and Interventions- The overarching goal of Meridian programs is to increase health equity across racial and ethnic groups, while also improving health outcomes for the entire population. Meridian supplied tablets in community locations, such as Dollar General, for members to receive health plan services, community resources, learn more about redetermination and complete health assessments. Meridian diversified efforts in 2023 to include additional member, provider, and community collaboration/engagement with support from the Maternal Health Equity Pod, Diabetes booklet mailers, and SDoH data from Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) providers, with the goal of increasing rates of HEDIS® measured preventative care.
- Prenatal and Postpartum Care- In 2023, Meridian saw an increase in HEDIS® rates for prenatal care and postpartum care. During 2023, Meridian participated in the SSFB program and mailed prenatal packets and referred members for prenatal care completions. Meridian also continued in its efforts to identify pregnant members earlier so that help can be provided sooner in the pregnancy. Pregnancy outreach and education is also shared with both members and providers, along with information around doulas, Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) services and other community resources.
- Patient Safety- Meridian tracks patient safety through Quality-of-Care Events; suspected acts or actions that may be harmful to the quality or safety of the member. These events are reviewed by QI. Referrals are made when needed. Other patient safety measures include:
- Patient centered medical homes
- Clinical practice guidelines
- Medication safety
- Member stratification
- Complaint monitoring
Recommendations for 2024
In 2024, Meridian will focus on: Increasing HEDIS® and CAHPS® rates and reducing healthcare disparities.
- Member Satisfaction: Meridian will work to increase adult CAHPS® survey response rates and increase member satisfaction. This will be done by working to improve provider support to members and providing more robust education on benefits. Meridian will also utilize member focus groups to help identify other barriers that members may be facing with their healthcare.
- Increase HEDIS® Rates: Meridian will work to reduce healthcare gaps, increase immunizations, and increase health screenings in members. Additional focus areas will be diabetic support and appointment access to care.
- Reduce Health Disparities: In 2024, Meridian will focus on health equity to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities in health care. Meridian will continue to work with community partners, educate members and providers, and address barriers through CHW outreach to connect members with help.