Curriculum Overview

The Medicaid Leadership Institute curriculum is designed to be dynamic and relevant to the interests of participating Fellows as well as the current environment at both the federal and state levels. It focuses on broad macroeconomic and health policy issues, data and analytics, and leadership development.

The program provides Fellows with in-person institute sessions, site visits, one-on-one leadership coaching, and direct technical assistance in implementing a practicum on a salient policy issue of their choosing. The year-long curriculum is designed to increase Fellows’ substantive knowledge, technical skills, strategic thinking, problem solving, and individualized leadership skills. The curriculum features three distinct tracks:

Track 1: Economics and Policy

Focuses on the implications of broad macro economic and policy issues on state Medicaid programs. Examples of topics include health and behavioral economics, health reform, and other salient economic and policy issues. The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University is partnering with CHCS on this track.

Track 2: Data and Analytics

Focuses on the technical and operational aspects of Medicaid with a specific focus on building strategic and analytic capacity to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of health care. Examples of topics include the use of research and evaluation to drive policy and program development, value based purchasing and measurement strategies, and health information technology. CHCS is partnering with the Regenstrief Institute at the Indiana University School of Medicine on this track.

Track 3: Leadership

Focuses on developing the leadership and organizational management skills necessary to lead complex Medicaid programs. Topics include team building, strategic planning, networking, and management. Fellows also complete the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Survey and a 360 degree analysis and work with an individually assigned leadership coach on a plan for addressing opportunities identified through the assessments. The Center for Health Professions at the University of California San Francisco guides this track and assigns individual leadership coaches to the Fellows.

Practicum

The practicum serves as the foundation upon which the directors will actively build the curriculum tracks into their daily work. The practicum is designed to help Fellows think about how to foster, pursue and reward innovation within their agencies. CHCS works closely with Fellows in the selection of a practicum that will best stretch individual leadership skills and achieve a tangible benefit for the Medicaid program. Throughout the program year Fellows and their selected team members receive technical assistance from CHCS and its partners regarding the practicum.

Alumni Network

Each cohort of Fellows becomes part of an active alumnae network. Alumni are encouraged to serve as faculty members and mentors for future MLI Fellows.