Medicaid plays an essential role in expanding health care access, improving health outcomes, and advancing health equity for millions of people nationwide. However, few opportunities exist to develop the leadership capacity of senior Medicaid leaders, especially individuals with diverse identities, background, and experiences. This includes Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; people with disabilities; individuals who identify as LGBTQ+; and those with lived experience with Medicaid or other publicly financed programs. These senior leaders provide long-term continuity for Medicaid programs and serve as the talent pool for future Medicaid directors. Increased investment in Medicaid leadership, especially individuals with diverse identities and experiences, can help states and territories enhance their capacity for and improve outcomes.

The Medicaid Pathways Program, led by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is designed to strengthen the leadership capacity of senior Medicaid leaders. This nine-month leadership training program is designed for individuals who are new to Medicaid leadership roles and/or are interested in advancing to a more senior role in the future. The program supports a diverse cohort of senior leaders within Medicaid, especially individuals with lived experience with Medicaid or another publicly financed program (such as SNAP or TANF). Senior leaders eligible for the program include deputy- and executive-team level positions (e.g., deputy director, chief financial officer, chief medical officer) and senior managers (e.g., bureau/section/unit chiefs, policy directors). The program is designed to:

1. Strengthen participants’ skills so they can more effectively thrive in complex leadership roles;
2. Facilitate the advancement of senior Medicaid leaders, including creating opportunities to support more diversity in leadership positions to reflect the communities served by Medicaid; and
3. Build peer relationships and foster a network of Medicaid leaders for idea sharing, problem-solving, and support.

Selected participants will have the opportunity to:

• Practice a competency-based leadership model. Participants receive expert training that follows a competency-based leadership framework designed for senior executives working in the public sector.
• Engage in individualized coaching. Coaches work with participants to craft an individualized leadership development plan that includes personal development goals, activities to practice skills, and opportunities to apply new skills to the participants’ daily work.
• Discuss best practices in Medicaid leadership. Participants are exposed to Medicaid leaders and faculty to apply leadership concepts to real-world policy issues pertinent to leading Medicaid programs.
• Network with peers. Participants develop peer relationships and ongoing support networks that they can draw on throughout the program and beyond.

Now in its third year, 60 senior Medicaid agency leaders — representing 29 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico — with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experience have participated in this leadership training program since the program launched in 2021. Learn more about the participants.