“Reach out to other states who have [created cross-agency partnerships] and ask, ‘What did you do to make this successful?’, ‘How did you get over this hurdle?’ We always ask other states where the potholes are, so we don’t fall in.”

Adrienne Fegans, Deputy of Programs and Operations, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Service

Cross-sector collaboration is essential for addressing critical issues faced by state Medicaid and behavioral health agencies, such as behavioral health provider shortages and funding challenges. In this new episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast, representatives from Virginia’s Behavioral Health division and Medicaid discuss the intricacies of aligning their programs to meet shared goals and better serve enrollees. The episode explores how involving cross-agency teams at the beginning of efforts to design, implement, or improve programs can streamline processes across agencies and for enrollees. It examines the value of fostering leadership at every staff level to effectively guide collaborative efforts.

This episode of Medicaid Leadership Exchange features Kyla Patterson, MS, Early Intervention Program Manager, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and Adrienne Fegans, Deputy of Programs and Operations, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Service. It is hosted by Gretchen Hammer, MPH, principal, Public Leadership Group and consultant, National Association of Medicaid Directors.

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Featured in this episode:

Gretchen Hammer, MPH, Principal, Public Leadership Group and Consultant, NAMD Kyla Patterson, MS, Early Intervention Program Manager, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Adrienne Fegans, Deputy of Programs and Operations, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Service

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, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

Support for this podcast was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.