What is AHEAD?
AHEAD (Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design) is a voluntary, state-based total cost of care model that allows Maryland to manage healthcare costs and quality, and improve the overall health of the state. Through expanding primary care, strengthening population health and more, AHEAD advances the State’s vision of empowering all Marylanders to achieve optimal health and well-being.
AHEAD will improve the health of Marylanders
- Prevent disease by empowering communities. Health begins in our families, neighborhoods, schools, and jobs. AHEAD supports all Marylanders in making choices to be healthy, no matter where they live.
- Provide better care for Marylanders by expanding advanced primary care to prevent and treat illness, identify health issues early, and manage chronic conditions like diabetes.
- Provide better care for Marylanders by rewarding hospitals and specialists for high quality care. Learn more about this work at the HSCRC.
- Protect taxpayers and patients by controlling health care spending. Learn more about this work at the HSCRC.
Improving Population Health
The AHEAD Model provides Maryland the tools to make progress on key areas of health, including disease prevention, chronic disease management, mental health, hospital readmissions, and food insecurity. All parts of the healthcare and public health systems are collaborating to engage communities and plan around population health improvement.
Expanding Primary Care
The AHEAD Model expands advanced primary care programs to improve the quality of care delivered, enhance patient experience, and reduce the costs of care. Maryland’s programs align Medicare and Medicaid state-led care transformation efforts, with the goal of achieving all payer alignment over the course of the model.
Learn more about this work.
AHEAD is currently being implemented in Maryland and over the next decade, will continue to build upon the successes of the previous
Maryland Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Model in reducing health care cost growth and improving the quality of health care.
AHEAD Regulatory Working Group
A working group of State regulatory agencies, led by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and including the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE), the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC), the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) and the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA), has been established to meet the goals and objectives of the State of Maryland under the AHEAD Model. The working group prioritizes stakeholder insight, input, and guidance to the greatest extent possible, promoting market stability, health care affordability, access, and quality throughout Maryland. The working group is leading efforts to inform all-payer cost growth and primary care investment target-setting methodologies under AHEAD.
Learn more about the working group.How can I get involved?
MDH hosts both public meetings and regular stakeholder calls to provide updates and take feedback. Experts are also welcome to join one of the AHEAD workgroups, commissions or committees below:
- Maryland Commission on Health Equity (MCHE): This group oversees AHEAD model governance structure and supports population health implementation. Meetings are public.
- Data Advisory Committee: Supports population health measure selection, target setting, and progress monitoring for AHEAD Population Health. Meetings are public.
- Population Health Improvement Fund Subcommittee: Advises on Request for Application development, participates in application review, and reviews progress updates related to the Population Health Improvement Fund. Meetings are public.
- AHEAD Regulatory Workgroup: While composed of State regulatory agencies, there are frequent opportunities for stakeholders to provide feedback on policies under consideration.
- Primary Care Advisory Council: The AHEAD Primary Care Advisory Council advises MDH on ongoing development and implementation of the AHEAD Primary Care programs. Meetings are public.
- Primary Care Investment Workgroup: This workgroup considers ways to improve quality and access to primary care services.
