The COVID-19 pandemic, ensuing recession, and amplification of issues related to health equity have forced state Medicaid agencies to evaluate their budgets and investments to better serve Medicaid enrollees. In this episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast, Tracy Johnson, Medicaid director at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, and Caprice Knapp, director of the medical services division at the North Dakota Department of Human Services, share strategies on how to have discussions with budget staff and legislators about investing in infrastructure that supports long-term health equity goals. They also explore how Medicaid services and budget are affected by factors that impact access to equitable care, including criminal justice, childcare, broadband access, and more.

This episode is cohosted by Gretchen Hammer, senior strategic advisor, and Hilary Kennedy, former program director for Medicaid leadership at the National Association of Medicaid Directors. It also includes insights from Mark Larson, former Vermont Medicaid director and senior vice president of leadership and capacity building at the Center for Health Care Strategies.

Medicaid Leadership Exchange is a podcast series exploring priority topics for Medicaid leaders developed in partnership with the National Association of Medicaid Directors and the Center for Health Care Strategies through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Visit Medicaid Leadership Exchange for additional episodes.

Featured in this episode:

	Tracy Johnson, Medicaid director, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing		Caprice Knapp, , director of the medical services division, North Dakota Department of Human Services