The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), established in 2009 through the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) and expanded by the health reform law, releases its first report to Congress. The Commission is chaired by Diane Rowland, executive vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation and executive director of the Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. According to the report, the Commission has met five times since its first meeting in July 2010 and “in these public deliberations, the Commission established priorities, reviewed analytic work products, and sought public comment on issues.” A letter to Congress preceding the report notes:

“As we begin to address our statutory charge regarding access, payment, and data issues, the last section of the Report establishes the Commission’s approach in examining access and payment issues. Data issues are also reviewed and potential improvements in data systems for policy analysis and program accountability are identified. As part of our analytic framework, the Commission has established the development of key baseline data and information on Medicaid and CHIP as a first priority. Data presented in the Medicaid and CHIP program statistics (MACStats) section are the Commission’s first step in providing information on key program features such as eligibility, enrollment, and spending. MACStats will continue to be an important component of all future Commission reports. As we continue to develop our analytic capacity, information in MACStats will provide updates of general program characteristics, as well providing data on the more specific issues in our statutory charge, such as dual eligibles, disabled populations, and managed care.”