Aligning systems with cross-agency partners can better support Medicaid members by closing gaps and improving services. Journey mapping is one tool that can promote cross-agency collaboration and systems alignment. This new episode of the Medicaid Leadership Exchange podcast explores how a cross-agency team in Alaska embarked on a journey mapping process to better understand the experiences of pregnant people impacted by substance use disorder to improve maternal health and reduce infant out-of-home placement.

In a related blog post, Daniela Lewy, managing partner at Social Determinants of Health Consulting and a CHCS partner providing technical assistance to the cross-agency Alaska team, discusses journey mapping — what it is, how it works, and how it can help improve systems.

This episode of Medicaid Leadership Exchange is hosted by Gretchen Hammer, MPH, principal, Public Leadership Group and consultant, National Association of Medicaid Directors. She is joined by Emily Urlacher, Public Health Specialist focusing on Early Childhood Systems, Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Health; Julius Goslin, Staff Physician and Medicaid Medical Director, Alaska Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services; Shontey Hambrick, Social Services Program Officer, Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children’s Services; and Mark Larson, Senior Vice President, Leadership and Capacity Building, CHCS.

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Featured in this episode:

	Gretchen Hammer, MPH, Principal, Public Leadership Group and Consultant, NAMD		Emily Urlacher, Public Health Specialist focusing on Early Childhood Systems, Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Health
	Julius Goslin, Staff Physician and Medicaid Medical Director, Alaska Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services		Shontey Hambrick, Social Services Program Officer, Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children’s Services
	Mark Larson, Senior Vice President, Leadership and Capacity Building, CHCS

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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.