The Medical Care Advisory Committee and Member Experience Alumni Council work hand-in-hand to improve and maintain the quality of Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program). Together they provide a forum for health care professionals and those with lived experience to share their perspective and use their unique knowledge of Health First Colorado benefits and services to advise the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing on policy development and the effective administration of Health First Colorado.
The meeting schedule, frequency, and format for both groups will be determined at a later date and published here.
Medical Care Advisory Committee Membership
Committee membership is determined by the Medicaid Director who will appoint individuals from a variety of medical professional fields as described below, and up to five individuals not directly associated with any medical profession. Health First Colorado members with lived experience must make up at least 25% of committee membership, and must also serve a concurrent term on the Department’s Member Experience Alumni Council.
Committee Membership:
- State or local consumer advocacy groups or other community-based organizations that represent the interests of, or provide direct service, to Medicaid beneficiaries.
- Clinical providers or administrators who are familiar with the health and social needs of Medicaid beneficiaries and with the resources available and required for their care. This includes providers or administrators of primary care, specialty care, and long-term care.
- Participating Medicaid managed care organizations or health plans, enrollment assisters, case management entities, or a health plan association representing more than one such plans.
Note: The administrative heads of the State Department of Health Care Policy and Financing and State Department of Public Health and Environment or State Department of Human Services shall also serve on the committee (known as "ex officio" members of the committee).
Once selected, the roster of committee members will be posted on this page.
MEAC Alumni Council
Members who have completed two years on the Member Experience Advisory Council (MEAC) may apply to participate as liaisons between the MEAC and the Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC). This provides MEAC alumni with a natural next level of engagement and an opportunity to work alongside health care professionals to advise the Department on topics they decide upon related to:
- additions and changes to services,
- coordination of care,
- quality of services,
- eligibility, enrollment and renewal processes,
- member and provider communications,
- cultural competency, language access, health equity and disparities and biases in the program,
access to services, and - other issues that impact the delivery or outcomes of health and medical services.
For more information please see the MEAC and MEAC Alumni Council website.
Meeting Schedule and Materials
The Medical Care Advisory Committee meets quarterly on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Meetings will be open to the public twice per year. Dates will be announced in advance. Registration links for these public meetings will be posted to this site ahead of the meeting.
MEAC meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Following MEAC meetings, the Alumni Council meets at 1 p.m. to review feedback and prepare for the next MCAC meeting.
2025 Bylaws
The Medical Care Advisory Committee Rules of Procedure (coming soon)
Annual Report
An annual report covering activities related to the MCAC Medical Care Advisory Committee and the MEAC Alumni Council's work as it relates to the MCAC will be published on this page by September 2026.
Contact Us
Medical Care Advisory Committee Program Administrator:
Sarah Davis
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
303 E. 17th Avenue
Denver, CO 80203
Email: HCPF_stakeholders@state.co.us
Meeting Accommodation and Language Access Notice: Auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities and language services for individuals whose first language is not English may be provided upon request. Contact Ryan Lazo at HCPF_stakeholders@state.co.us at least one week prior to the meeting to make arrangements.
Las ayudas y servicios auxiliares para individuos con discapacidades y servicios de idiomas para individuos cuyo idioma materno no sea inglés pueden estar disponibles por solicitud. Comuníquese con Ryan Lazo a HCPF_stakeholders@state.co.us al menos una semana antes de la reunión para hacer los arreglos necesarios.
Medical Care Advisory Committee Creation and History
The original Colorado State Medical Assistance and Services Advisory Council (also known as “NightMAC”) was created in 1967 and operated in accordance with 42 CFR 431.12 (Code of Federal Regulations) based on section 1902(a)(4) of the Social Security Act. It was established as the Colorado State Medical Assistance and Services Advisory Council under Section 25.5-4-203 C.R.S. (Colorado Revised Statutes).
In 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated State Plan requirements (42 CFR 431.12) requiring the “establishment and ongoing operation of a public Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC) with a dedicated Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC) comprised of current and former Medicaid beneficiaries, their family members, and caregivers, to advise the State Medicaid agency on matters of concern related to policy development, and matters related to the effective administration of the Medicaid program.”
The original Colorado State Medical Assistance and Services Advisory Council has concluded its work as of November 2024 and the new Committee will launch in July 2025. Contact HCPF_stakeholders@state.co.us to request past Colorado State Medical Assistance and Services Advisory Council (“NightMAC”) meeting materials.