As we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the State University Partnership Learning Network (SUPLN), I'm proud of our accomplishments and look forward to our role in helping states navigate the ever-changing health care environment. Over the past decade, our network has emerged as a powerful and trusted space for state university-based researchers, practitioners, and State Medicaid administrators who are tackling and evaluating Medicaid’s toughest health care and financing challenges.
The Medicaid and health policy landscape is on the cusp of significant change. With the continued public health emergency unwinding and a new administration set to take office in 2025, we anticipate a wave of revisions that will impact state Medicaid programs, public health initiatives, and a host of other critical areas. During this period of transition, the relationships and trusted data cultivated through SUPLN's state university-based research partnerships will be more important than ever before.
Through our network, partners have forged deep connections, shared innovative approaches, and amplified the real-world impact of their work. These partnerships have been essential in making the case for strengthening the ties between Medicaid agencies and state universities. Looking ahead to SUPLN's next decade, we are poised to play an even more critical role in sharing information and best practices as university researchers assist states to weather policy changes, public health crises, technology advances, and the other unknowns in health care. While change in a new administration and congress naturally brings uncertainty, trusted data and partnerships are sure to be the backbone of adapting Medicaid programs to new requirements and operationalizing solutions. In this new environment, the generation and promotion of strong evidence should have a prominent role in the conversation. The collaborative work of SUPLN members grounds policy making and provides evidence needed for states to move forward. SUPLN and these trusted university-state partnerships are ready for what lies ahead.
The Importance of Cross-State and Interdisciplinary Research
Medicaid cross-state research illuminates best practices and innovative solutions. The success of the Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network (MODRN), supported by SUPLN and the Medicaid Medical Director Network (MMDN), exemplifies this approach. By pooling resources and data across states, MODRN has demonstrated how shared insights can lead to more effective policy interventions.
SUPLN is uniquely positioned to catalyze cross-pollination between not only states, but additional fields of study. The data generated, and SUPLN’s ability to facilitate communicating the data’s story, gives policy makers state-specific, data-driven evidence and a roadmap to implement solutions. This powerful cross-state, interdisciplinary work allows policy makers to apply learnings from around the country, those most applicable within their policy context, without reinventing the wheel.
Embracing and Optimizing Artificial Intelligence in Medicaid Data Analytics
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing data analytics, and its application to Medicaid data can help states answer questions with greater speed and accuracy. SUPLN provides an avenue for states and universities to collaborate on AI-driven projects, leveraging advanced analytics to identify trends, predict needs, and optimize resource allocation. By pooling expertise, we can create efficiencies in day-to-day operations, and ultimately develop algorithms that inform decision-making, enhance care coordination, and improve health outcomes for Medicaid enrollees.
Expanding Our Geographic and Practitioner Reach
As SUPLN has grown over the past decade from partnerships in 18 to 31 states, we’ve seen the power of connecting researchers, Medicaid program staff, and practitioners from diverse regional and institutional contexts. Moving forward, SUPLN is committed to extending the network's footprint, forging new partnerships across related state agencies, such as behavioral health, social services and corrections, and elevating the innovative work happening at state universities and state Medicaid programs across the country. By amplifying these diverse voices and perspectives, we can strengthen the collective impact of our work.
SUPLN – The Next 10 Years
SUPLN will maintain relevance and grow by building on the basics. In celebrating the last 10 years, we remember what makes SUPLN so impactful—it is trusted relationships and commitment to objective, data-informed decision making. SUPLN is a vibrant ecosystem where ideas are shared, solutions are incubated, and real-world change is achieved. By deepening our connections, more succinctly telling the data stories, and continuously evolving to meet the needs of state Medicaid programs, university partnerships answer the call to help facilitate solutions. Universities are engaging students and training future researchers and state policymakers and analytic staff to continue the work. While the road ahead may present new challenges, university partners are poised to be a trusted voice to Medicaid agencies navigating change.