Medicaid Reimbursement and Other Funding Strategies for Community Health Workers: Perspectives of Employer Organizations in Indiana

Authors: Michael L Scanlon, Jasmine T Jackson, Melissa R Thomas, Debra K Litzelman

This study looked at how community health worker programmes in Indiana are funded and the challenges employers face in maintaining them. Interviews with CHW employers found that most relied on short-term grants, while only one of the eight Indiana organisations was receiving payment through Medicaid. Employers reported problems such as low payment rates, complicated billing processes, and limits on which CHW services could be paid for. The study suggests that longer-term funding, better Medicaid policies, flexible funding approaches, and stronger support for CHW employers are needed to build a more stable CHW workforce.