Community health worker team integration in Medicaid managed care: Insights from a national study

Authors: Ashley Wennerstrom, Catherine G Haywood, Denise O Smith, Dakshu Jindal, Carl Rush, Geoffrey W Wilkinson

A national survey of CHWs working with Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) was conducted to learn more about their integration into MCOs compared to their historically community-based settings. Researchers asked questions about how teams are structured in these environments and how CHWs and their supervisors perceive CHW roles in MCOs. Results showed that CHWs roles in MCOs focus largely on supporting clinical care, rather than addressing community-level concerns. These findings suggest health plans should provide CHWs professional freedom to address common social needs, while MCOs should ensure CHWs receive equitable compensation and opportunities for promotion.