Tech Talent Project is selecting five to six states to join its Medicaid Delivery Innovation Initiative (MDII) 2027 cohort. As a nonprofit staffed by former civil servants, we offer selected states free comprehensive discovery, implementation support, recruiting tech talent, and ongoing coaching to rapidly improve Medicaid eligibility systems and processes, and we know firsthand what it takes to build trust alongside state staff.
The problem Medicaid agencies face
Your agency runs on tech, and the millions of Americans who depend on Medicaid feel it when systems fall short. As Medicaid policy grows more complex, your teams face demands like work verification, semiannual redeterminations, and new cost-sharing rules, all on top of existing systems. You may see call volumes rise and ex parte rates fall short of what you need, sending more of the work to your caseworkers.
What MDII provides Tech Talent Project brings a deep commitment to the people your programs serve. MDII works at the systems level, helping you fix what decides whether eligible people keep coverage. It also helps you build the in-house technical capacity to modernize legacy systems and hold implementation partners accountable, so members face less paperwork and fewer delays.
Why build internally
Internal tech capacity gives you the confidence to question vendors’ suggestions, the view to see the full picture across every handoff, and the foresight to catch downstream effects before they reach residents. With technologists working shoulder to shoulder with your program staff, your team can pivot faster and achieve better delivery outcomes.
How MDII Works
Discovery sprint. For eight weeks, a dedicated team of MDII Fellows works alongside your staff. Using data, user research, and stakeholder interviews, you will identify the specific barriers to better service delivery and produce co-designed, prioritized recommendations.
Recruitment support. We pair service delivery improvements with follow-on support to assess your highest-priority technical talent needs, strengthen your organizational structure, and fill the roles that sustain and build on those gains. You gain access to Tech Talent’s network of 11,000+ mid-to-senior technologists, helping you attract and diversify your talent streams. MDII Fellows identify hiring pathways and connect you with qualified candidates ready to step into the roles the sprint identifies, and your team receives training in best practices for recruiting and interviewing tech talent.
Ongoing coaching. Leaders you place can receive government and Medicaid-specific support. MDII Fellows keep meeting with your staff to increase the digital maturity of your IT program office, so you can evaluate what your vendors and contractors produce, and to advocate for right-sized tech capacity. The goal is an internal team that sustains what the sprint started.
What the 2026 cohort accomplished
- 40% Improved text message response rates
- 1st Created the first state Medicaid Customer Experience Office, with 5 technologist roles
- 24% Identified ex parte rate gains
- HR 1 Built a performance monitoring strategy for HR 1 work requirements
We will support up to six states in 2027.
How could we help you?
- Triage why eligible beneficiaries are getting disenrolled after work requirements go into effect
- Identify and remediate bottlenecks in caseworker processing
- Improve the use of automation in your eligibility processes
- Assess your highest-priority technical talent needs and bring that talent in-house
Expect concrete deliverables such as increasing ex parte rates, reducing procedural disenrollment, or cutting backlog.
Ready to join? Submit a statement of interest. If you have any questions please email our team at [email protected]