Acentra Health Launches Safe AI in Medicaid Alliance (SAMA)

What You Should Know: – Acentra Health, a technology and health solutions company launches of the Safe AI in Medicaid Alliance (SAMA). SAMA was created with input and participation from the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Amazon Web Services (AWS), McKinsey & Co., Arcadia, and the Acentra Health Healthcare Advisory Board. – The new initiative brings together Medicaid leaders, policy experts, and technology innovators to develop safe and responsible frameworks for artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and use within state Medicaid programs. The alliance aims to fill a “long-standing gap in the national AI policy landscape” by addressing the unique operational, compliance, and equity challenges facing state Medicaid programs. SAMA Inception SAMA was formally convened in August at the Medicaid Enterprise Systems Conference (MESC). Leaders at the conference discussed the challenges state Medicaid agencies face with respect to AI, how public and private sector partners will collaborate through SAMA, and draft deliverables, including shared evaluation frameworks for AI use cases and risk tiers. Impact and Mission The alliance’s mission is centered on building practical frameworks that states can use right away to improve outcomes in their programs. By developing shared evaluation frameworks and defining risk tiers, SAMA will provide a standardized approach to AI governance that can be adopted across different states. This collaborative effort will help ensure that AI tools are used responsibly and transparently, which is crucial for building trust among Medicaid recipients, providers, and policymakers. Next Steps