Beneficiary Advisory Committee

 
11
Medicaid Related Assistance
Medicaid & Long-Term Care
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Medicaid-Beneficiary-Advisory-Committee.aspx
Share facebook icon x icon copy action icon
No
No

What would you like to do?

What you need to know

​​​Participation in the BAC provides an opportunity for current or former Medicaid members, their guardians, or their caretakers to share their lived experience with the Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care (MLTC). 

Some members of the BAC will also have the opportunity to serve on the Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC) which will meet separately from the B​​​​AC. The MAC is made up of MLTC members or their caretakers, healthcare providers, community organizations, and managed care organizations (MCOs). The purposes of the MAC and BAC are to inform MLTC of different perspectives on the effectiveness, benefits, changes, and challenges of MLTC programs.​

Next BAC Meeting

The first BAC meeting will be held on July 17, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Lincoln, Nebraska.

  • Address: Lincoln Public Library - Bess Dodson Walt Branch (6701 S 14th St, Lincoln, NE 68512)
  • Online/call-in option for members of the public:
    • Join by phone: +1-408-418-9388
      • Access code: 2491 148 0848
    • Join online by WebEx
      • Meeting link
      • Meeting number: 2491 148 0848
      • Meeting password: hFPPih2as26​

​

MAC and BAC Background

In April 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services Final Rule which introduced significant changes to Medicaid advisory structures. These updates aim to enhance access, quality, and equity across Medicaid services and to amplify members' voices.

One key change replaces the Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) with the new Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC). The MAC expands its advisory role beyond health and medical care to address a broader range of topics, including service access and quality, eligibility and enrollment, health equity, program communications, and other factors influencing Medicaid outcomes. 

Additionally, Nebraska will establish a Beneficiary Advisory Committee (BAC) by July 2025. This committee, composed exclusively of Medicaid enrollees and their families or caregivers, will identify critical issues to present to the MAC and provide direct feedback to help influence Medicaid policy and administration.

Efforts to transition from the MCAC to the MAC and to establish the BAC began in summer 2024, with ongoing work to develop member selection processes and administrative protocols. The MAC and BAC are required to publish a single annual report outlining their activities and recommendations, with the first report due by July 2026.​


​

Committee Documents

Member Compensation and Reimbursement

Member Recruitment Process

1. Application Process:

Beneficiary Advisory Committee (BAC) applicants can download a fillable PDF application form​ and email it to the DHHS.MACandBAC@nebraska.gov email inbox. The PDF will be available on the BAC webpage of the Medicaid and Long-Term Care (MLTC) website.

MLTC will promote BAC applications by distributing recruitment materials in local public spaces and sharing recruitment information with community partners and other interested parties.

Applications will be open on an ongoing basis, with Nebraska Medicaid selecting new members as member terms expire or members step down and positions open. ​​

2. Selection Process:

Nebraska Medicaid will convene an application review committee to review applications and recommend potential members. The committee will then share their recommendations with the director of Nebraska Medicaid. The director will review the recommendations and officially select members of the BAC.  

Nebraska Medicaid will inform applicants via email that they have been selected to serve on the BAC. Upon the applicant's acceptance, they will be confirmed as members of the BAC.

3. Evaluation Criteria:

BAC members can include people who are currently receiving or have previously received Medicaid benefits and their family members or caretakers.

Nebraska MLTC strives to establish a diverse BAC that is widely representative of the communities served by Nebraska Medicaid. This includes a wide range of ages, races and ethnicities, Medicaid eligibility groups, abilities, geographical communities (including rural and urban communities), and care settings.

Applications will be assessed for:

  • Relevance of the applicant's skills and experience
  • Applicant's interest in improving the Nebraska Medicaid program for all members
  • Clarity and relevance of the applicant's written responses

Member Education

Current Members

  • Alissa Kern
  • Allison Sothan
  • Amber Corbin
  • Arvoni Johnson
  • Erica Spears
  • Franck Toe
  • Lori Wachter
  • Mary Phillips
  • Renae Wacker
  • Vanessa Chavez-Jurado

2025 Meetings

Meeting minutes marked as draft are up for approval at the committee's next meeting. 

July 17, 2025