Harnessing the Combined Strengths of a National and a Local Funder to Bolster Maine Medicaid Expansion

Authors

Tara Oakman PhD, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Barbara Leonard MPH, Maine Health Access Foundation
Kimberley S Fox MPA, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public ServiceFollow
Sara Kahn-Troster MPH, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public ServiceFollow
Amanda Burgess MPPM, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public ServiceFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-30-2021

Keywords

Maine, Medicaid, MaineCare, policy, philanthropy, collaboration

Publication Title

Health Affairs Blog

Abstract

Researchers at the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service conducted an evaluation of a partnership between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Maine Health Access Foundation, and Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services to support Medicaid expansion through outreach to under-represented communities and data analysis of health system capacity. The evaluation sought to provide RWJF with lessons learned for potential replication in other states. The blog post describes some of the findings from the evaluation, including the important role of the local funder in facilitating the work, the valuable opportunity for key stakeholders in Maine to develop new relationships and strengthen existing ones, and insights around equity in MaineCare (Medicaid) outreach and enrollment.

Funding Organization

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Recommended Citation

Oakman, T., Leonard, B., Fox, K. S., Kahn-Troster, S., & Burgess, A. (2021, September 30). Harnessing the Combined Strengths of a National and a Local Funder to Bolster Maine Medicaid Expansion. Health Affairs Blog. Retrieved October 4 from https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20210928.543829/full/