One integrated service, two practices, a single enterprise view of your Medicaid modernization journey.
ECS brings together PCG’s CMS Streamlined Modular Certification (SMC) and Medicaid Information Technology Architecture (MITA) enterprise architecture practices into a single integrated service. From enterprise planning and Advance Planning Document (APD) funding strategy through certification and ongoing compliance, ECS helps state Medicaid agencies secure, manage, and sustain enhanced federal funding while advancing successful MES modernization initiatives throughout both solution and investment lifecycles.
Webinar Series
Understanding the New CMS SMC Landscape – The shift to the CMS SMC model brings new challenges and funding complexities. Our expert-led webinar series explores key pain points, strategic approaches, and practical insights to help you adapt with confidence.
Ongoing Compliance Article
A Framework to Maintain Module Enhanced Funding – With increased scrutiny on Medicaid system compliance and potential budget cuts ahead, now is the time to act. This article outlines a proactive approach to safeguarding millions in enhanced federal funding through sustained, strategic compliance.
Beyond Award: Sustaining Rural Health Transformation Program Funding Through Ongoing Compliance – With $50 billion in Rural Health Transformation Program funding now reaching states, securing the award is only the first step. This article outlines how proactive governance and compliance planning help states sustain RHTP funding and demonstrate lasting program success throughout implementation.
Outcomes-Based Planning One-pager
Outcomes-Based Planning (OBP): Strategy Meets Execution – OBP is both a strategic methodology and a technical solution designed to align organizational goals with measurable results. This one-pager outlines how the OBP process drives focus, accountability, and meaningful outcomes across complex initiatives.
Why ECS?
Certification success starts with sound business architecture. ECS pairs deep MITA business process and enterprise architecture expertise with hands-on CMS Certification management, so states aren’t left reconciling two disconnected workstreams. Whether your organization needs help maturing its MITA framework, preparing a module for SMC certification, or aligning both efforts at the enterprise level, ECS provides the knowledge, governance structures, and tools to move forward with confidence.
As vendors increasingly embed AI-enabled features into MES modules, ECS helps states evaluate whether and how to adopt these capabilities within existing MITA governance and CMS certification requirements—ensuring that AI-enabled functionality is deliberately prioritized, appropriately documented, and doesn’t introduce new certification or compliance risks.
More Time, Less Worry
ECS helps states reduce administrative burden, strengthen certification readiness, and sustain enhanced federal funding by providing integrated MITA and certification support throughout the modernization lifecycle. Our team monitors evolving CMS requirements, supports governance and artifact management, and helps identify compliance risks early, allowing state staff to focus on program priorities rather than documentation and review coordination. Drawing on decades of Medicaid experience and close collaboration with CMS and state agencies, we help clients maintain compliance, improve readiness, and reduce the risk of funding disruption.
Two Practices. One Enterprise View.
MITA Architecture & Governance — ECS helps states assess and mature their MITA across the business, information, and technical domains, including updates to architecture models, capability-based outcomes, MITA State Self-Assessments (SS-As), business process improvement, and enterprise roadmap planning. We help states define their to-be state and build the governance foundation their technology investments depend on.
CMS Certification — ECS provides end-to-end CMS SMC certification management, from APD support to early development of actionable outcomes and metrics through Operational Readiness Reviews (ORRs), Certification Review (CRs), and operational reporting. Because both MITA maturity and CMS SMC Certification success are interdependent, ECS delivers both practices together for a coordinated enterprise strategy. States can engage in either practice individually or combine them under one enterprise view, but either way they will benefit from our tools and experience.
Protecting Your Investment
Certification is a milestone, not a finish line: to protect enhanced FFP for Operations and Maintenance (often the difference between a 50% and 75% federal match), states must keep demonstrating compliance long after go-live. ECS supports that ongoing work by tracking evolving CMS requirements, maintaining documentation for annual Operational APD (OAPD) submissions, and flagging compliance risks before they threaten funding. The MITA/Certification foundation states build with ECS become lasting infrastructure that protects federal investment for years to come.
A Shared Methodology: Outcomes-Based Planning
ECS’s proprietary Outcomes-Based Planning (OBP) method provides states with a structured way to define, measure, and demonstrate success across modernization initiatives by linking business challenges, outcomes, metrics, and success criteria. OBP also leaves states with a durable measurement infrastructure that aids in consolidating operational reporting, including reusable templates, governance processes, and ongoing reporting, that outlasts the engagement itself. Built for both MITA and certification work, OBP reflects ECS’s focus on integrated methodology across practices.
Our Services Include:
MITA Architecture & Governance
- MITA Architecture Customization & Updates
- Strategic & Roadmap Planning
- Business Process Assessment & Improvement
- Data and Technology Standards Assessment & Identification
- MITA State Self-Assessments (SS-A)
- MITA Governance Structuring
- Outcomes-Based Planning (OBP)
CMS Certification & Compliance
- SMC Certification Management
- APD Management and Support
- Outcome and Metrics selection, development, and enhancement
- ORR/CR Preparation & Management
- Testing & Security Compliance Assessment
- Ongoing Compliance & Reapproval Management and Support
- Organizational Change Management