Company Profile
The Hilltop Institute at UMBC
Company Overview
Formed in 1994 through a unique collaboration between UMBC and the Maryland Department of Health’s Medicaid program, Hilltop conducts research and policy analysis to support health care financing and delivery system reform in Maryland and other states. Widely recognized for its expertise in Medicaid, Hilltop is at the forefront of national efforts to find data-driven solutions to complex problems facing state policymakers as publicly funded health care systems transition to new models that reward quality and value over volume.
Hilltop partners with the Department to develop risk-adjusted capitation payments for the nine health plans that participate in HealthChoice, Maryland’s Medicaid managed care program. HealthChoice currently enrolls about 1.5 million Marylanders with estimated capitation payments of $7 billion annually. During each annual rate setting cycle, Hilltop performs financial and actuarial analyses and provides policy guidance to the Department to support the development and federal certification of capitated rates. Maryland’s rate-setting process is highly regarded by federal officials, other states, and health plans for its rigor, transparency, and collaborative, interactive processes. To support rate development and other work, Hilltop maintains an extensive onsite data repository that includes Medicaid and Medicare administrative data, hospital discharge data, nursing home assessment data, and all-payer claims data.