Running a state Medicaid program means steering policy, budgets, and teams that shape health care for millions of people in the United States. Yet few directors remain at the helm of Medicaid programs long enough to witness — and drive — decades of change. This episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast features two of the nation’s longest tenured Medicaid directors, who share what drew them to their roles, how they approach leadership, and moments that defined their public-service careers:

The episode is hosted by Mark Larson, former Vermont Medicaid director and senior vice president, Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), and Kate McEvoy, former Connecticut Medicaid director and executive director, National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD). The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders. It is developed in partnership by NAMD and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Allow up to 20 seconds for audio playback to begin.

The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders and is developed in partnership by NAMD and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit the series page for additional episodes, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

The post Reflections on Leadership from Long-Serving Medicaid Directors appeared first on Center for Health Care Strategies.

Stakeholder voices — including parents, community members, advocacy groups, and providers — play a vital role in shaping Medicaid. Their on-the-ground insights help drive policies that make the program stronger and more responsive to the people it serves. This episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast discusses how collaborating with stakeholders and understanding their perspectives can spark meaningful change within Medicaid programs.

The episode features individuals with leadership experience in state Medicaid and at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

The episode is hosted by Mark Larson, former Vermont Medicaid director and senior vice president, Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), and Jami Snyder, former Arizona and Texas Medicaid director and president and CEO, JSN Strategies. The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders. It is developed in partnership by the National Association of Medicaid Directors and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Allow up to 20 seconds for audio playback to begin.

The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders and is developed in partnership by NAMD and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit the series page for additional episodes, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

The post Listening, Learning, Leading: Stakeholder-Driven Change in Medicaid appeared first on Center for Health Care Strategies.

The path to Medicaid leadership isn’t always a straight one. In fact, it is the breadth of experience and expertise — spanning sectors both inside and outside of state government — that is essential to building teams with the skills and agility to manage multi-billion-dollar programs. This episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast features three Medicaid leaders whose unique backgrounds — in nursing, technology, and politics — have helped shape their roles as trusted advisors to Medicaid directors.

The episode features perspectives from Medicaid leaders in New Mexico, Alabama, and Wisconsin:

The episode is hosted by Mark Larson, former Vermont Medicaid director and senior vice president, Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), and Jami Snyder, former Arizona and Texas Medicaid director and president and CEO, JSN Strategies. The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders. It is developed in partnership by the National Association of Medicaid Directors and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Allow up to 20 seconds for audio playback to begin.

The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders and is developed in partnership by NAMD and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit the series page for additional episodes, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

The post How Wide-Ranging Experiences Strengthen Medicaid Leadership appeared first on Center for Health Care Strategies.

“We need to tell our stories because the state will listen — they have listened.”

When Medicaid agencies partner with families, it brings together two essential perspectives: state officials who understand the policies and processes behind the programs, and families who offer on-the-ground insight into navigating those programs. This episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores North Dakota’s Cross-Disability Advisory Council — a unique partnership between agency staff and parents working together to improve programs for children with disabilities and their families. The episode highlights the value each unique perspective brings in shaping more responsive, effective Medicaid programs.

The conversation features perspectives from a North Dakota Medicaid leader and parent advocate:

The episode is hosted by Mark Larson, former Vermont Medicaid director and senior vice president, Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), and Jami Snyder, former Arizona and Texas Medicaid director and president and CEO, JSN Strategies. The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders. It is developed in partnership by the National Association of Medicaid Directors and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Allow up to 20 seconds for audio playback to begin.

The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders and is developed in partnership by NAMD and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit the series page for additional episodes, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

The post Stronger Together: North Dakota Medicaid and Families Partnering for Impact appeared first on Center for Health Care Strategies.

Medicaid can partner with Tribal communities to better serve their members, who face persistent and significant health disparities. But before deciding how to address Tribal needs, it is critical for Medicaid agencies to forge strong partnerships by actively listening to what the Tribes need and want. This episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores how Medicaid can better serve Tribes by establishing clear lines of communication between Tribal communities and Medicaid staff. The episode highlights the importance of respect in building partnerships with Tribes and acknowledges how the rich histories of these communities impact their needs, health, and well-being.

The conversation features perspectives from two Tribal leaders and an Arizona Medicaid leader:

The episode is hosted by Mark Larson, former Vermont Medicaid director and senior vice president, Leadership and Capacity Building, Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS).

Allow up to 20 seconds for audio playback to begin.

The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders and is developed in partnership by the National Association of Medicaid Directors and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit the series page for additional episodes, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

The post Creating Supportive Partnerships Between Medicaid and Tribal Communities appeared first on Center for Health Care Strategies.

Supporting families of children with special health care needs is critical to ensuring their health and well-being, and helping them stay together as a family. This episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores how Medicaid agencies can better serve children with special health care needs and their families. The episode emphasizes the importance of partnering across silos and opening lines of communication between agencies and the people they serve. It also discusses OhioRISE, an innovative managed care program for youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs.

The conversation features perspectives from Ohio Medicaid leaders and a parent advocate:

The episode is hosted by Jami Snyder, CEO, JSN Strategies, and former Arizona and Texas Medicaid director.

Allow up to 20 seconds for audio playback to begin.

The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders and is developed in partnership by the National Association of Medicaid Directors and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit the series page for additional episodes, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

The post How Medicaid Can Better Support Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs appeared first on Center for Health Care Strategies.

Navigating Medicaid can be daunting, especially when an individual or family member has complex needs. This challenge is compounded when siloed state agencies have poor communication, which can prevent individuals and families from receiving coordinated services that meet their needs. This episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast shares the story of Mark Butler, parent advocate and OhioRISE Advisory Council member. Mark shares how he is working with Ohio Medicaid to break down silos and improve communication across state agencies serving families, especially those who have complex needs.

The episode is hosted by Jami Snyder, former Arizona and Texas Medicaid director and president and CEO, JSN Strategies.

Allow up to 20 seconds for audio playback to begin.

The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders and is developed in partnership by the National Association of Medicaid Directors and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit the series page for additional episodes, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

The post Navigating Medicaid: Insights from a Parent Advocate appeared first on Center for Health Care Strategies.

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:

The episode is hosted by Mark Larson, former Vermont Medicaid director and senior vice president, Leadership and Capacity Building, Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), and Jami Snyder, former Arizona and Texas Medicaid director and president and CEO, JSN Strategies.

Allow up to 20 seconds for audio playback to begin.

The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders and is developed in partnership by the National Association of Medicaid Directors and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit the series page for additional episodes, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

The post How Can States Better Serve Dually Eligible Populations? appeared first on Center for Health Care Strategies.

“If you can invest in the mother, you can change a generation.”

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 members at the heart of all decisions. The episode features perspectives from:

This episode is hosted by Mark Larson, former Vermont Medicaid director and senior vice president, Leadership and Capacity Building, Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), and Jami Snyder, former Arizona and Texas Medicaid director and president and CEO, JSN Strategies.

Allow up to 20 seconds for audio playback to begin.

The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders and is developed in partnership by NAMD and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit the series page for additional episodes, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

The post The Critical Role of Medicaid in Addressing Maternal Health Disparities appeared first on Center for Health Care Strategies.

No matter where someone lives — in rural regions, urban areas, or in-between — they should have equitable access to high-quality health care. This first episode in a new season of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast highlights the importance of Medicaid to the millions of people living in rural communities across the country. It delves into the unique challenges faced by Medicaid directors in predominantly rural states and breaks down the common misconceptions surrounding rural America. The episode features perspectives from:

In this season of Medicaid Leadership Exchange, hear how states and territories are working to achieve better outcomes for individuals served by Medicaid, and the creative mechanisms being used to address health disparities — including by listening to communities’ needs. The season is hosted by Mark Larson, former Vermont Medicaid director and senior vice president, Leadership and Capacity Building, Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) and Jami Snyder, former Arizona and Texas Medicaid director and president and CEO, JSN Strategies.

Allow up to 20 seconds for audio playback to begin.

The Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores priority topics for Medicaid leaders and is developed in partnership by NAMD and CHCS through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit the series page for additional episodes, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

The post The Impact of Medicaid on the Rural Health Care Landscape appeared first on Center for Health Care Strategies.