For the Common Good

CSG Associate Program Members Partner with State Leaders to Help Advance Innovative Policy Solutions

By Lexington Souers

A sleepy Washington, D.C., conference room began to fill with voices early one August morning. What followed was a lively three-day exploration of how states can better address the needs of populations using Medicaid and how the public-private partnerships of CSG can benefit states and their leaders.

This event, known as the Medicaid Policy Academy, is a longstanding program of The Council of State Governments aimed at connecting legislators and state leaders with broader concepts and policy areas.

Attendees heard from experts with the Carl Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy at Wayne State University Law School, Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity at George Washington University, a senior policy analyst at the National Association of Medicaid Directors, and an executive director at the National Academy for State Health Policy.

Insight was also offered by voices unique to CSG — Associate members from leading organizations who bring experience, innovation and data to CSG programming.

The CSG Associates Program began in 1984. For 40 years, it has brought more than 400 corporations, national trade associations and nonprofit organizations into the program. The support of Associate members, which comes from Associate, Premier Associate, and Leadership Circle levels, allows CSG to introduce new ideas to public policy areas, including criminal justice, health and human policy, and interstate compacts.

“For over 90 years, state leaders have looked to CSG to help them navigate the complexities of the public policy challenges facing their state. In turn, CSG has looked to the members of the CSG Associates Program to help us connect, inform, inspire and empower state officials,” said David Adkins, CSG executive director/CEO. “State leaders benefit from the cutting-edge insights and real world know how our Associates generously provide. Their engagement with CSG helps us better serve state leaders as they search for the right policy solutions for their state. All of us at CSG are grateful for the valued investments of the CSG Associates and we are proud of the impact they have helped us achieve in the states.”

“Holding workshops such as the Medicaid Policy Academy offers an important opportunity for government officials, leaders and industry experts to work toward a common goal that ultimately benefits their constituents.”

Betsy Baker, AWS national Medicaid and public health leader

Associate members engage with members at conferences, share their expertise, and connect leaders with solutions or other states programs. At the CSG Medicaid Policy Academy, private organizations were able to share their expertise at the Health Innovation Roundtable.

For example, longtime associate Philips highlighted its Pregnancy+ app for legislators. Evan Hoffman, Philips director of state government relations, discussed the app and Philips’ partnership with the Healthy Moms Healthy Babies Initiative in Michigan. The session also included Alkermes, an associate since 2023, and the Diabetes Leadership Council.

By attending the Medicaid Policy Academy and similar programs, Associates can share their expertise while also communicating directly with members. Betsy Baker, national Medicaid and public health leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS), said programs like the Medicaid Policy Academy help educate policymakers and support innovation.

In a session on the use of technology, experts shared their work, including with the New Mexico Human Services Department, which Baker said used Amazon’s call center as a service solution “to improve beneficiary self-service with multi-lingual chatbot capabilities and … human-like conversational capabilities.”

“These convenings are paramount in transforming the way that technology impacts Medicaid agencies, workers and beneficiaries,” Baker said. “Innovation accelerates Medicaid transformation when we work backward from our stakeholders' needs, understand where they are headed, and continually iterate to help states and agencies move ideas to reality, today and in the future. At events such as the Medicaid Policy Academy, AWS joins Medicaid leaders to better understand challenges they are facing in their states, then share ways AWS has approached challenges with other stakeholders to deliver results that make a positive impact for their constituents.”

Associates can also expand their knowledge in policy areas, by hearing from subject-matter leaders and real-world experts. Building these relationships increases communication with colleagues across the country on similar issues and a deeper understanding of stakeholders’ focus. In these few days, Associates can interact with those interested in their subject matter and show how they are working toward valuable, data-driven solutions and policy options.

“Engaging with state Medicaid directors and legislators was educational and collaborative,” Baker said. “AWS welcomes the opportunity to showcase the innovations happening across the country in Medicaid technology and operations. We do this by sharing success stories in innovations through stakeholders that have made great strides in addressing their challenges. This allows us to help spotlight these innovative Medicaid projects and hopefully inspire more ideas to collaborate.”

The CSG Associates Program members partner on priority issues:

  • Military & Veteran Affairs
  • Occupational Licensure
  • Research Informed Governing
  • Education & Workforce
  • Elections
  • Health & Human Services
  • Fiscal Policy
  • Criminal Justice
  • Interstate Compacts

Betsy Baker, Amazon Web Services national Medicaid and public health leader, addressed using technology for workforce challenges on Aug. 28 at the 2024 CSG Medicaid Policy Academy in Washington, D.C.

The CSG Medicaid Policy Academy is just one of the many specialized programs and policy academies organized by CSG. Experts in health care, energy, education, fiscal issues and more gather each year, often thanks to the support of CSG Associates.

While Associates don’t control the messaging or bipartisan, collaborative nature of a CSG event, they do bring distinct perspectives, allowing members and stakeholders to better understand a policy issue.

CSG welcomes the input of its Associates and partners. This feedback enables CSG to create programs that offer enriched opportunities for connection and idea exchange, supporting members and partners in their pursuit of the common good.

Connect with the CSG development team at associates@csg.org. For questions about Amazon Web Services’ work in Medicaid or how it can help, please contact aws-slg-medicaid@ amazon.com.