By Kindel Holloman, Marketing Manager The 2026 Home and Community-Based Services Conference, held August 23-27, 2026, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland, brought together policymakers, program administrators, providers, and advocates to share ideas, discuss emerging trends, and identify ways to strengthen home- and community-based services (HCBS) across the country.
By Cristina Simas, Marketing Manager The next phase of Medicaid modernization will require flexibility, accountability, and partnership. MESC 2026 provided a forum for examining both the current landscape and the future of the Medicaid enterprise, bringing together states, territories, innovators, and federal leaders around a shared reality: Medicaid is entering a more demanding era. H.R.1, rural health challenges, workforce pressures, data quality, compliance requirements, and the need to do more with less are accelerating the need for modernization.
By Nilay Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager Despite a dip when COVID-era provisions ended, Medicaid enrollment continues to go up.
By Nilay Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager, HealthTech Systems When you hear the words "claim denial" or "encounter processing," it's easy to assume that the organization handling those transactions is making decisions about a person's medical care. In reality, claims and encounters processing occurs after healthcare services have already been delivered. Claims and encounters processing is fundamentally different from clinical decision-making. Understanding this distinction is important for healthcare providers, Medicaid members, policymakers, and the public.
By Nilay Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager, HealthTech Systems Medicaid agencies are operating in a shifting environment. Federal oversight is increasing. Provider shortages continue to strain access. Program integrity expectations are rising. At the same time, states are being asked to modernize operations, reduce administrative burden, and protect public funds without disrupting care delivery.
By Susan Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Integrated Health Solutions Medicaid is one of the most complex healthcare programs in the United States, serving more than 90 million Americans through a combination of federal and state-administered programs, eligibility categories, and waiver authorities. The program finances acute care, behavioral health, long-term services and supports (LTSS), and home- and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults, children, individuals with disabilities, and medically vulnerable populations.
By Meghan Harris, President and Chief Operations Officer Mental Health Burden According to the World Health Organization, an estimated one billion people[1] live with a mental health or addictive disorder. That’s one out of every eight people on the planet. In the U.S., estimates suggest that only half of people with mental illnesses receive treatment.[2] And according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA)’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only a small proportion of individuals who need substance use treatment receive it, leaving approximately 90% who go without treatment.[3] The burden of mental health disorders and the associated economic costs are enormous — to individuals, the economy, and society.
By Susan Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Integrated Health Solutions States have developed a wide range of services to help individuals who have disabilities or chronic conditions and need long-term care. Over 30% of Medicaid expenditures go toward long-term services and supports (LTSS) for both institutional and home-based care.
By Nirav Dalal, Senior Vice President of Sales Leadership With more Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS) moving to modular, multi-vendor models, vendor selection is no longer just about technology; it’s about building a network of partners who work together to deliver better outcomes for priority populations. The shift is reshaping Medicaid operations and demands a more strategic, deliberate approach to vendor selection.
