Pharmacists play an essential role in the health care ecosystem. They facilitate medication management, educate patients, provide vaccinations, and engage in public health promotion initiatives. They are also among the most familiar and accessible health care professionals — visited nearly twice as often as physicians and located within five miles of 90 percent of Americans. The frequent interactions and familiarity people have with pharmacists build trust, positioning them as valuable assets in health care. People with complex health needs, including Medicaid beneficiaries who are

Highlights emerging evidence on the effectiveness of Medicaid ACOs to better support people with complex health and social needs by realigning payment incentives to prioritize high-quality care.

Features a discussion with Michaela Kerrissey, PhD, associate professor of management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, on primary care practice experiences with care integration and how Medicaid policy can influence integration.

Highlights emerging evidence on the effectiveness of CM interventions and strategies to scale implementation. It can help inform policymakers, state agencies, health plans, and providers seeking to implement CM effectively.

The Point of Reentry and Transition program connects adults leaving NYC's Rikers Island jail to trauma-informed, patient-centered primary care and other essential health and social services.

Explores evidence on the effectiveness of mobile crisis teams for adults experiencing behavioral health crises and recent funding opportunities that can help scale and implement these vital services.

Shares insights from a panel of national complex care experts who discussed the latest research on addressing social needs in health care and how to translate evidence into practice at the local, state, and national levels.

Provides valuable insights into implementation models and tools designed to support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.

The Better Care Playbook spoke with Elder Angela Overton, Senior Advisor and Director of Faith Community Partnerships at the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care, to discuss the Louisville Community Model of Care Project.

Highlights recent findings on the effectiveness of medically tailored meals and the impacts these programs have on hospitalizations, patient costs, and clinical outcomes, and also outlines implementation considerations.

State policymakers can use this resource roundup to understand emerging best practices for member engagement, with a focus on adults with complex needs.