Human Services is accepting nominations for its Medicaid Medical Advisory Committee, encourages Medicaid enrollees to get involved

The following press release is from the North Dakota Department of Human Services:

The North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Medical Services Division is seeking nominations for membership on its North Dakota Medicaid Medical Advisory Committee. The committee provides input on key initiatives, policies and administration of North Dakota Medicaid, which is the state and federally-funded health program that serves qualifying pregnant women, children, people with disabilities and other individuals. The deadline to submit nominations is March 3, 2020.

“Federal law requires states to have a committee to advise their Medicaid program. For many years, there has been a group of dedicated committee members who have provided feedback on the provision of Medicaid services and policies, and we are grateful for their input,” said Caprice Knapp, Medical Services Division director. “Now, we are taking the committee to the next level by creating a charter that formally outlines the committee’s role and responsibility, mission, membership composition, and other protocols.”

The new charter creates a 25-person committee. It must include a board-certified physician and members of consumer and advocacy groups, including Medicaid enrollees. Other committee members may include representatives from health care providers, trade associations, community partners, lawmakers, a member from each of the five recognized tribes in North Dakota, and others.

“We would like more involvement from Medicaid enrollees who benefit from the program,” Knapp said. “Their insight would be beneficial to the committee’s work and mission. In an effort to be more citizen-focused, we have moved the meeting times to late afternoon and early evening to accommodate those with daytime work schedules.”

Potential members can self-nominate or be nominated by a colleague or other individual. Written nominations should clearly describe the nominee, his or her Medicaid experience, why the individual should be a committee member and any affiliation with a partner group. All committee members will be appointed by the department’s executive director or designee from the list of nominees.

Nominations can be emailed to Krista Fremming at krfremmingnd [dot] gov

 by March 3. Anyone with questions can contact Fremming at 701-328-2342 or 711 TTY.

The North Dakota Medicaid Medical Advisory Committee meetings are held quarterly in Bismarck. Committee members and other interested individuals can join the meetings online or by phone. Upcoming meeting dates and other information about the committee is online at www.nd.gov/dhs/services/medicalserv/medicaid/mmac.html.