

Next year the State of Maryland will transition from its unique Total Cost of Care (TCOC) payment model to the CMS AHEAD (States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development) model. The state’s Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) recently heard testimony from a variety of stakeholders about their hopes and concerns for AHEAD.
Under a total-cost-of-care approach, a participating state uses its authority to assume responsibility for managing healthcare quality and costs across all payers, including Medicare, Medicaid, and private coverage. States also assume responsibility for ensuring health providers in their state deliver high-quality care, improve population health, offer greater care coordination, and advance health equity by supporting underserved patients.