Reposted from UMBC News:https://umbc.edu/stories/cider-program-hilltop-medicaid-study/ 

UMBC’s CIDER program supports new Hilltop Institute-led Medicaid study, other cross-collaborative projects

UMBC researchers are collaborating on a study that takes a closer look at specific diagnosis coding patterns that focus on societal factors that potentially influence the health of Maryland’s Medicaid recipients. 

Morgan Henderson, director of analytics and research at UMBC’s The Hilltop Institute, and Jun Chu, assistant professor of public health, are among the five cross-collaborative teams selected to receive funding from UMBC’s Center and Institute Departmentally-Engaged Research (CIDER) program. Henderson and Chu’s CIDER-supported project will investigate potential “z code” patterns of the state’s Medicaid recipients. Z codes are a set of diagnosis codes that refer to factors influencing a patient’s health status beyond diseases or injuries, called social determinants of health. 

“These specific diagnosis codes indicate certain social determinants of health-related factors, not just traditionally medical things,” explains Henderson, principal investigator of the study. Z code data indicates if a patient has an issue that’s related to social risk factors, such as unstable housing, lack of food, hazardous living environments, and employment status.

“There hasn’t been much analysis of z code patterns and we aim to lay a good foundation for better understanding these diagnosis codes within Maryland’s Medicaid data,” says Henderson. 

A deeper look into z code diagnosing could be a useful identification “to bring extra resources to Medicaid recipients who are in need,” says Chu. 

Analyzing Medicaid data

The study coincides with recent news of potential billion-dollar federal budget cuts to Maryland’s Medicaid program, which currently supports about 1.7 million Maryland residents. The Hilltop Institute specializes in working with the state’s Medicaid data. According to the institute’s Maryland Medicaid DataPort, two in five of those in Medicaid are children and Medicaid pays for 60 percent of nursing home stays. 

Chu’s research has largely focused on social determinants of health with a particular focus on immigrant communities and Medicaid recipients who are children. Henderson helped to develop and currently manages Hilltop’s predictive modeling portfolio. These predictive models, which also utilize z code data, use a variety of risk factors derived from Medicare and Medicaid claims data to estimate the probability that a given patient incurs certain outcomes in the near future.

The pair’s project will include two studies: one study will focus specifically on the patients ascribed z codes to determine what patterns arise based on patient-specific factors such as demographics, health care utilization, or geography. 

The second study will focus on analyzing the characteristics of the healthcare providers that indicate the z codes on Medicaid claims. 

“Patient claims are the engine that so much of health analysis relies upon. It’s the decision of the provider on which coding diagnoses to include—it’s not a completely standardized process,” says Henderson. 

CIDER 2025 recipients

The CIDER program’s goal includes supporting and promoting collaborative research between scholars based in one of UMBC’s affiliate centers and institutes and the university’s faculty researchers. Selected proposals are awarded up to $50,000 in seed funding for 18 months. 

The 2025 CIDER program recipients include: 

• Anin Puthukkudy, Earth and Space Institute, and Vanderlei Martins, professor of physics
• Jessica Sutton, Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II, Tejas Gokhale, assistant professor of computer science and electrical engineering, and Thomas Stanley, GESTAR II
• Kaur Kullman, the Center for Space Sciences and Technology, Alan Sherman, Roberto Yus, and Enis Golaszewski, professors of computer science and electrical engineering
• Morgan Henderson, The Hilltop Institute at UMBC, and Jun Chu, assistant professor of public health
• Venkatesh Srinivasan, Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Tyler Josephson, assistant professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering

Don Engel, associate vice president for research development, shares that the CIDER program was created to foster collaborations that draw on the full range of UMBC’s strengths in research and creative achievement. 

“CIDER helps connect faculty in our research centers with colleagues in degree-granting departments to pursue work with real impact—work that informs policy, advances knowledge, and ultimately serves the public good,” says Engel. 

Name: Shraddha Kumar
Pronouns: She/her
Semester of Internship: Spring 2024
Major: Engineering Management
Current Class Level: Master's Student
This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship
Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Amplify MedTech
Location of the Organization (City, State): Columbia, MD
Title of position: Marketing Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:
During my internship at Amplify MedTech, I have been actively involved in various aspects of marketing and market research, contributing significantly to the company's growth and visibility in the MedTech sector. My primary responsibilities include creating and implementing strategic digital marketing initiatives aimed at enhancing brand awareness and fostering community engagement. On a daily basis, I manage and optimize our social media presence by curating impactful content designed to expand audience reach and strengthen our digital presence. Additionally, I produce essential marketing research insights that inform strategic decision-making, facilitating both audience expansion and improved market positioning. This experience has allowed me to develop valuable skills in research analytics, digital content strategy, and professional communication, all of which align closely with my career goals and academic background.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?:
I first discovered the internship opportunity with Amplify MedTech through Handshake, UMBC's career and internship platform. After submitting my application, I went through the selection process and was subsequently connected with Amplify MedTech through the UMBC Career Center's Shattuck Family Internship Program for Entrepreneurship. The Career Center provided exceptional support during the onboarding phase, ensuring a seamless transition into my role. Their guidance and resources made the onboarding process smooth and effective, enabling me to quickly integrate into the team and actively contribute to Amplify MedTech's initiatives.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?:
UMBC Career Center, Handshake

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?:
What I've enjoyed most about my role at Amplify MedTech is the opportunity to directly contribute to meaningful projects that impact the MedTech community. I've particularly valued engaging in creative marketing initiatives and insightful market research, supported by a team that encourages innovation. The collaborative environment at Amplify MedTech has continuously inspired me to learn, explore new ideas, and enhance my professional skills.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?:
Through my internship at Amplify MedTech, I've made a tangible impact by supporting the company's participation in the Maryland Tech Council's Tech Transformation Conference 2025. My contributions helped effectively showcase our vision, and mission to industry leaders and potential partners, elevating our visibility within the tech community. Additionally, my market research insights and strategic marketing efforts have strengthened Amplify MedTech’s presence, driving audience engagement and contributing directly to the organization's growth.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?:
My advice to students seeking internships is to proactively engage with resources like Handshake, attend career fairs, and take the support provided by UMBC’s Career Center. Tailor your application to highlight skills relevant to the position and organization, and don't hesitate to network with industry professionals.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center:
My internship at Amplify MedTech has been truly fulfilling, allowing me to actively contribute to exciting projects and directly support the growth of an innovative organization, and simultaneously collaborate closely with industry leaders in the MedTech space. UMBC’s Career Center was pivotal in helping me secure this role through Handshake, offering guidance that ensured a smooth onboarding experience.

The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab

Issues in Document Security

Charles Nicholas, UMBC

12–1pm Friday, May 9, 2025, online