Academically based regional quality improvement hubs: Advancing Medicaid's quality strategy in the state of Ohio through state-academic partnerships.

Introduction: In 2022, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) launched a Managed Care Population Health and Quality Strategy to improve healthcare quality and equity for Medicaid Managed Care enrollees. Aligned with national quality objectives, the strategy focuses on personalized care, service coordination for complex needs, reducing health disparities, and includes performance incentives for Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and innovative provider payment models. While Ohio has made progress in quality improvement, challenges remain in addressing statewide health indicators and disparities and helping healthcare providers adapt to performance-based models. This report outlines a new approach that builds on Ohio's partnership with six colleges of medicine (CoMs) to support provider organizations and engage stakeholders in quality improvement (QI). Methods: ODM established Regional QI Hubs within Ohio's CoMs to advance population health initiatives using the Model for Improvement developed by the Associate in Process Improvement. These academically based hubs collaborate with local healthcare clinics, community partners, and payers on QI projects to enhance care, reduce disparities, and strengthen health systems. By engaging stakeholders in designing and testing change ideas using Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles and electronic health record data feedback, QI Hubs further the goals of the learning health system. Results: Key lessons highlight the benefits of engaging academic institutions to build internal QI capacity and promote health equity. The model required substantial capacity building and commitment on behalf of academic institutions and strengthening of regional partnerships. Collaboration between MCOs and health clinics is focused on standardizing processes to access services and implement best practices. Patient, family, and community engagement efforts aim to improve patient experience and address drivers of health equity. Each partner leverages resources and benefits from the collaboration. Conclusions: Ohio's academically based Regional QI Hub Model offers a promising approach to advancing population health. Policymakers are encouraged to consider integrating academic expertise into state quality strategies.