Alaina Macia to Participate in Transforming Healthcare in Missouri (THM) Event
MTM’s President and CEO Alaina Macia will be at the forefront of the upcoming Transforming Healthcare in Missouri (THM) event, hosted by the WashU Institute for Public Health’s Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research (CAHSPER). Scheduled for Friday, September 27, the 2024 event will dive into the critical topic of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) as a key benefit in Missouri’s Medicaid program.
Each year, THM panels bring together a diverse array of stakeholders—including healthcare providers, payers, consumers, researchers, economists, advocates, and policymakers—to engage in thoughtful discussions about healthcare reform in Missouri. The event is well known for its unique approach of blending broad, visionary policy recommendations with specific, real-world solutions aimed at improving the state’s healthcare landscape. This fall’s session, Transforming Healthcare in Missouri, Part IX: Transportation Benefits as a Driver of Health in Medicaid, will explore how transportation services support health outcomes for Medicaid members, especially those receiving life-sustaining care.
The event will kick off with keynote speaker Andrea Barton Reeves, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Social Services, who will present a national perspective on the role of NEMT in Medicaid, setting the tone for the discussions ahead. Following the keynote, a local panel will offer diverse insights from the perspectives of managed care payers, rural hospital staff, social workers coordinating NEMT for life-saving treatments, and NEMT service providers.
As Missouri’s transportation broker, MTM will play a pivotal role in the conversation. Alaina Macia, along with CAHSPER, will share relevant data and provide a comprehensive policy overview. The event will then transition into breakout discussions where attendees, ranging from policymakers to healthcare professionals, will exchange their experiences and ideas. These discussions will be summarized in a white paper to guide future Medicaid policy in Missouri.
By focusing on NEMT, this year’s THM event highlights the importance of reliable transportation in bridging the gap between healthcare services and the communities that need them most. Alaina’s leadership at this event reflects MTM’s ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access and transportation solutions for vulnerable populations across MTM’s home state of Missouri.
For information about attending this in-person event, please email CAHSPER.
