Strong partnerships between Medicaid and public health agencies can support the use of evidence-based prevention strategies and improve health care delivery. By sharing data, resources, and expertise, these collaborations enable more proactive responses to pressing population health challenges, including rising rates of chronic disease, poor maternal health outcomes, and persistent tobacco use. Together, Medicaid and public health agencies can build a more coordinated and efficient health care system that advances policies and programs designed to improve population health.

With support from The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) conducted research to better understand how state Medicaid and public health agencies partner to improve population health. As part of this research, CHCS facilitated 20 individual and group interviews with state Medicaid and public health leaders across the country to gather their perspectives.

This Pew report presents key insights from CHCS’ research to help states develop and sustain long-term, effective Medicaid-public health agency partnerships. It examines how these partnerships influence policies and programs, highlights emerging evidence on population-health outcomes, and distills lessons states can use to build and strengthen their own partnerships. The report includes case studies on Medicaid-public health partnerships in 14 states — Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Tennessee — to illustrate how agencies are working together to address shared priorities.