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Better serving people who are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid is complex, but a key priority for many Medicaid agencies. This episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores the importance of integrating benefits for this population to create more person-centered care and services for members. It also highlights the power of designing integrated programs in partnership with members and their caregivers. The conversation features perspectives from Medicaid directors in New Jersey and Texas: Jennifer Langer Jacobs, Assistant Commissioner, Division of Medical Assistan ..read more

Finding time for organizational development can seem impossible in the busy world of Medicaid agencies, but strengthening the ability of staff to lead in an environment where they don’t always have control over strategic priorities is critical for success. In Medicaid, a steady stream of constant changes keeps things exciting, but challenging, too. Sometimes, leaders are prepared to manage the changes. Other times, it can feel like a steep learning curve to navigate unfamiliar territory. Without an organizational development plan, staff may feel frustrated about not having defined roles and sc ..read more

“If you can invest in the mother, you can change a generation.” Cheryl Roberts, Virginia Medicaid director Addressing maternal health disparities is a key priority for many Medicaid agencies. This episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast highlights the need to better address maternal health disparities, particularly for Black, American Indian, and Alaskan Native women, and people living in rural communities. It explores how Medicaid agencies are working to address maternal health disparities by collecting reliable data, engaging communities to tailor solutions, and keeping member ..read more

Listen in to this season 5 overview of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange to learn how the season will explore access-related challenges faced by Medicaid members across the nation and the work Medicaid agencies are doing to ensure high-quality, equitable care. The season will focus on priority populations — centering both Medicaid members and the people working in and with government to better serve these individuals. The season is hosted by Mark Larson, former Vermont Medicaid director and senior vice president of Leadership and Capacity Building, Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS ..read more

After a global pandemic and with unwinding coming to an end, Medicaid teams across the country are digging in to build agile programs that can navigate the unforeseen challenges of the future. One key to long-term success is developing the internal capacity of Medicaid agencies to effectively balance the mission of delivering equitable and high-quality care while managing a complex array of federal, state, and local priorities. With this ongoing dynamic in mind, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, partnered with New Jersey’s Medic ..read more

As a Senior Associate Medical Director for MassHealth, Massachusetts’ Medicaid and CHIP agency, Viveka Prakash-Zawisza, MD, MS, MBA, has been instrumental in advancing health equity throughout the commonwealth. After practicing as an obstetrician-gynecologist for five years, Viveka decided to return to school to study social policy, where she was inspired to join the public sector. Since joining MassHealth in 2019, Viveka has served as the agency’s clinical lead for member and community engagement, perinatal health, and gender-affirming care. She recently helped to design and implement new cov ..read more

With almost two decades in the public sector, Jon Fujii has risen through the ranks as a trusted leader for the Med-Quest Division, Hawaii’s Medicaid program. As health care services branch administrator, Jon leads a team of registered nurses, licensed social workers, and contract specialists to provide equitable and person-centered coverage to almost 400,000 Medicaid members. In his role, Jon oversees a range of programs, including the five health plans that serve more than 99 percent of Hawaii’s Medicaid members. He also manages the contract with the Community Care Services health plan that ..read more

Inclusive leadership involves intentionally creating environments that are supportive, appreciative, and representative of the various identities within a shared community or workplace. While ensuring diversity is an important factor in fostering inclusivity in bringing people together, it is not the only ingredient to spark creativity, innovation, and community. Inclusive leaders take actions to ensure that every person in an organization can thrive and belong — meaning they are understood, acknowledged, and empowered at work.  The Center for Health Care Strategies recently connecte ..read more

Health equity leaders face formidable challenges in their work to mitigate historical health inequities and narrow disparities across vast systems and populations. In leading these critical efforts, these professionals — across federal, state, plan, system, or community roles — may face many additional challenges, including limited resources, small teams, and competing organizational priorities. One way to address these barriers, and foster positive change, is to invite the voices and perspectives of expert advisors into the process. Technical health equity advisory committees can include indi ..read more