New Medicaid Primer Strengthens State Behavioral Health Collaboration

A new resource developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Westat aims to strengthen states’ abilities to meet the behavioral health needs of their residents. Medicaid Primer: An Overview of Medicaid and Behavioral Health highlights how stronger collaboration between state agencies and Medicaid can expand access to mental health and substance use disorder services, benefiting individuals, families, and communities nationwide.

Practical Strategies

Designed for new staff within State Mental Health Agencies (SMHAs) and Single State Agencies (SSAs), as well as partners seeking to improve behavioral health services, the primer was developed in collaboration with former and current SMHA, SSA, and state Medicaid agency staff.

“We asked people currently working in state behavioral health agencies, as well as Medicaid directors, what they wish they had known when they first started in their roles,” said Lisa Lentz, MPH, a Westat Principal Research Associate. “We also asked which strategies they have found most effective for working together on initiatives that improve health outcomes and reduce costs for people covered by Medicaid.”

The primer outlines practical strategies for working effectively with Medicaid authorities and increasing understanding of how Medicaid can support behavioral health services.

Interactive Collaboration Checklist

Organized around a user-friendly, interactive Collaboration Checklist, the primer provides step-by-step guidance, hyperlinked resources, and up-to-date web references to help states build meaningful, productive partnerships that enhance care delivery.

“Anybody who works in behavioral health knows what Medicaid is, but the complex nature of the program means that many individuals have incomplete knowledge of it. The Medicaid Primer is not just another handbook,” said Phil Masiakowski, a Research Associate at Westat. “It is designed to be interactive so that individuals can jump around within it, focus on their specific knowledge gaps, and have quick-reference resources at their fingertips when on critical calls. This primer was developed with busy state agency leaders in mind!”