Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC) and Beneficiary Advisory Committee (BAC): Project Update

What's Happening

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is creating two new groups to help improve Minnesota Medicaid. These groups are required by a federal rule: eCFR :: 42 CFR 431.12 -- Medicaid Advisory Committee and Beneficiary Advisory Council.

The two groups are:

  • Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC): A group of health care providers, community organizations, advocates, and other partners.
  • Beneficiary Advisory Committee (BAC): A group made up only of people who have Medicaid, or their family members or caregivers.

What the Committees Do

Both groups will give advice to DHS about the Medicaid program. They will share ideas about how to make Medicaid work better for the people who use it.

The BAC shares real-life experiences, such as:

  • Signing up for Medicaid
  • Getting health care and other services
  • Understanding letters and information from the state
  • Being treated fairly
  • How Medicaid policies affect everyday life

The MAC looks at these issues from a broader view. Members include health care providers, community organizations, advocates, and other partners who work with Medicaid.

At least one out of every four MAC members must also be a BAC member. These members have the same voting rights as everyone else on the MAC.

What We Have Done So Far

We looked at how past advisory groups worked and reviewed the new federal requirements. Then, we created a plan to:

  • Make the BAC an important part of the MAC process
  • Remove barriers so more people can participate
  • Recruit members from many different backgrounds and communities
  • Include more Tribal voices
  • Support members so they stay involved over time

Writing the Committee Rules (February–April 2026)

Over the past few months, we wrote the rules that will guide both committees. We focused on five important values:

  • Put beneficiaries first
  • Promote equity
  • Be open and transparent
  • Use evidence to guide decisions
  • Work together to solve problems

The rules include:

  • A charter that explains the purpose of each committee
  • Bylaws that explain how the committees operate
  • A plan to include members from across Minnesota with different backgrounds and life experiences

The rules also explain how ideas move through the process:

  1. The BAC reviews an issue first.
  2. The MAC discusses the issue.
  3. The MAC sends a recommendation to the State Medicaid Director.
  4. The Medical Director makes the changes or explains why it cannot be changed.

The rules also explain:

  • Who can become a member
  • How long members serve
  • Leadership roles
  • Meeting schedules
  • Disability accommodations
  • Member support
  • Training for new members

What's Next

We are now getting ready to launch the committees. Our next steps are:

  • Create the member application
  • Build a fair process to review applications
  • Recruit members from across Minnesota
  • Select the first committee members

We want this process to be fair, welcoming, and open to everyone—especially people who have not had a chance to share their voices before. We will continue to recruit Medicaid members from many communities, including Tribal communities, and provide support after they join.

People can apply to serve on the MAC or the BAC when applications open on July 27th, 2026 at 12:00 AM. The deadline for applications is August 31st, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Application timeline

  • July 27th, 2026: Applications open
  • August 31st 2026: Applications close
  • September 2026: DHS begins reviewing applications and will contact applicants for interviews.
  • Late October 2026: First BAC meeting
  • After the first BAC meeting: First MAC meeting

When this work is complete, DHS will have advisory committees that meet federal requirements and help make sure Medicaid decisions include the voices of the people the program serves.