
September 17, 2025
Rural Health Transformation Program Represents a One-Time Opportunity to Reshape Rural Care
Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø Insights – including our new podcast – puts the vast depth of Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íøâ€™s expertise at your fingertips, helping you stay informed about the latest healthcare trends and topics. Below, you can easily search based on your topic of interest to find useful information from our podcast, blogs, webinars, case studies, reports and more.

Rural Health Transformation Program Represents a One-Time Opportunity to Reshape Rural Care

This webinar was held on October 2, 2025.
As Medicaid evolves under HR 1, Managed Care Organizations face increasing pressure to meet new engagement requirements while ensuring vulnerable communities don’t fall through the cracks. This shifting landscape demands scalable, innovative care models that go beyond compliance – focusing instead on meaningful connections, coordinated support, and whole-person care.
In this session, Jami Snyder, former HHSC Commissioner of TX and Medicaid Director of AZ, joined Neil Batlivala, CEO and Co-Founder of Pair Team, and Dr. Nate Favini, Chief Medical & Strategy Officer, to explore how Pair Team and its MCO partners are meeting this moment. Learn how their model combines technology, care coordination, and community-based partnerships to engage hard-to-reach members and address social drivers of health.
We heard real-world examples of how payers and partners can come together in smarter, more connected ways. By aligning efforts and building trust, they can drive better outcomes and create stronger community connections for the people who need support the most.
Learning Objectives:
Featured Speakers:
Carter Kimble, Principal (Moderator) Health Management Associate
Jami Snyder, Former HHSC Commissioner, Texas; Former Medicaid Director, Arizona
Neil Batlivala, Founder and Chief Executive Officer Pair Team
Nate Favini, MD,MS, Chief Medical Officer Pair Team

This week, our In Focus features insights from the team of Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø (Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø) experts who attended the . Over a handful of days, aging and disability leaders, state officials, health plans, providers, and advocates gathered to explore strategies to transform long-term services and supports. The event celebrated advances in cross-sector collaborations, evidence of program value, seamless access to care for older adults and people with disabilities, member engagement, and integrated care plans for dually eligible individuals.
Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø participants identified seven cross-cutting themes that are reshaping the aging and disability landscape. We examine how these themes connect to ongoing federal policy changes and provide actionable guidance for stakeholders looking to stay ahead of the curve in this evolving field.
Executive Leadership Is Making the Difference
State leaders are developing new partnerships to continue progress toward meeting the needs of people with disabilities and aging adults across the lifespan. The conference showcased the significant progress that states have made by engaging governors and cabinet-level leaders. Pennsylvania’s aging department, for example, though small, leverages lottery funding and executive support to coordinate across departments and various strategic planning initiatives such as their multisector plan for aging.
North Carolina’s policy leadership in the governor’s office has been instrumental in aligning aging goals across state agencies such as the Department of Commerce on workforce initiatives and Department of Transportation which includes specific older adult needs in its planning.
Tennessee exemplified this approach by merging its Commission on Aging and Disability with the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to establish g.
This executive engagement enables what Kathy Greenlee, former ACL Administrator, emphasized: building partnerships beyond traditional aging and disability networks including connections with children and families programs that share common goals around caregiver support and prevention.
Technology Is Extending Human Capacity, Not Replacing It
Technology took centerstage as one of the major solutions to providing personalized caregiver supports and extending the capacity of human services. States are embracing AI (artificial intelligence)-powered tools for routine tasks like call transcription and resource database management, while maintaining human oversight for complex client interactions.
The most successful approaches recognize what highlighted, “High tech won’t replace the need for high touch, but high touch is in short supply.” Technology networks can stretch caregiver capacity, but the human element remains essential. The next generation of service professionals must be tech-savvy integrators who combine digital tools with caring relationships. Key technological advances include digital and virtual coaching platforms, AI precision analytics for risk identification, and “home intelligence” systems that support aging in place. Success, however, depends on ensuring these tools enhance rather than replace human connection.
Direct Care Workforce Crisis Demands Immediate Action
Leading states are not just attempting to manage workforce shortages; they are working on comprehensive workforce infrastructure solutions. Wisconsin’s Certified Direct Care Professional program enrolled over 3,400 workers in its first year, reduced turnover rates, and created a statewide registry where employers actively recruit graduates. Michigan developed four-level stackable credentials that transform direct care into respected career pathways.
States are deploying integrated workforce platforms that combine multiple solutions, including worker registries that promote workforce access and transparency, learning management systems that strengthen development through credentialing, and job matching that enhances access to quality care, and data insights that support evidence-based decisions.
Missouri demonstrates effective stakeholder engagement through its Direct Support Worker Advisory Panel, where 15 workers provide feedback on rates, documentation, scheduling, and professional development while being compensated in developing the solutions, for example, by including them in official advisory entities.
Forward-thinking organizations are breaking down silos through cross-sector partnerships. Area Agencies on Aging and Centers for Independent Living are cross-training workers to serve both populations, effectively expanding the available workforce capacity. Technology integration scales solutions through online, self-paced training that accommodates work schedules and diverse learning needs, while states use federal funding and Medicaid rate increases to boost wages and implement recognition strategies that elevate professional status.
Evidence-Based Investment Strategies
States shared the power of systematic, data-driven approaches to secure aging and disability investments. Ohio’s disciplined four-step process—identify priorities, determine evidence-based interventions, quantify return on investment, and operationalize results—resulted in
Under this reframing, aging can now be seen as an opportunity rather than a burden. States are building ecosystems and partnerships to enhance reach and effectiveness. This positions aging investments as competing priorities capable of delivering measurable returns. with career ladder pathways exemplifies how evidence-based workforce strategies can address critical shortages while improving quality.
The Urban Institute’s research on benefit uptake reveals that nearly 9 million older adults are eligible for programs they don’t receive. Success factors include coordinated state agencies, streamlined applications, community trust-building, and staff training—all areas where evidence-based approaches can guide improvement.
Holistic Support for Caregivers and Care Members
The conference emphasized a fundamental shift from viewing caregivers as invisible helpers to recognizing them as partners who require comprehensive support. Key elements for achieving caregiver-driven outcomes include providing support, guidance, and assistance while measuring burden, resilience, satisfaction, and finally, the intent to remain in home settings. , reflecting growing recognition of how caregiver skill-building adds value. This holistic approach extends to addressing the question of who replaces the family caregiver, as older adults increasingly live alone. The answers rest with the development of new partnerships with retailers, pharmaceutical companies, and employers, plus technology that enables remote family support.
Cross-Sector Collaborations: Systems Integration as Survival Strategy
Breaking down silos that have historically separated aging, disability, children and families, and health services resonated throughout the conference. Kentucky observed that states struggle with multiple uncoordinated plans, each with different goals and measures.
Several states have demonstrated successful integration strategies, such as aligning funding streams, creating shared governance structures, and using common metrics across traditionally separate systems. North Carolina’s approach of embedding aging considerations in transportation planning and commerce workforce development shows how integration can extend beyond human services.
From a federal perspective, integration has support. As Greenlee noted, the Administration for Children, Families, and Communities includes “communities” in its title as a signal of broader inclusion. States that build partnerships across these traditionally separate areas will be better positioned for future federal funding and policy changes.
MLTSS as a Critical Vehicle for Whole-Person Care
Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) programs are evolving an infrastructure for providing coordinated and integrated care delivery care. As this transformation occurs, states must have adequate oversight capacity to manage MLTSS programs effectively.
Effective MLTSS programs can help people early enough to prevent nursing facility placement by integrating all services including medical, behavioral, and HCBS and social supports through capitation. Plans should allocate resources to support provider technological investments that facilitate improved care coordination. This technological support becomes essential to maintaining the high-touch, personalized services that MLTSS members require while achieving the scale necessary for program sustainability.
These conference themes reflect broader federal policy shifts, including:
Organizations across the aging and disability ecosystem must prepare for a more integrated, technology-enhanced, and evidence-driven environment. Success will require executive leadership, strategic partnerships, and measurable value.
State Agencies
Health Plans and Payers
Providers and Community Organizations
Technology Vendors
The 2025 HCBS Conference revealed a field that is embracing innovation and integration. States leading this transformation share common characteristics: executive leadership, evidence-based investment strategies, technology that enhances human connection, holistic support approaches, and systems that collaborate to break down traditional silos.
The path forward requires strategic planning, rigorous evaluation, cross-sector partnerships, and sustained political will. Organizations that can integrate evidence-based approaches with compassionate care, leverage technology to extend human capacity, build partnerships that transcend traditional boundaries, and develop sustainable workforce solutions, will be best positioned to serve the growing population of older adults and people with disabilities.
Connect with Us
The HCBS Conference highlighted significant momentum toward integrated service delivery, evidence-based investment, and technology-enhanced care. Stakeholders should expect continued federal policy evolution, including new funding opportunities and partnership requirements in the coming years. Organizations that wait will miss critical opportunities. Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø works with state agencies, health plans, providers, and community organizations to design and implement aging and disability initiatives. We help clients engage executive leadership, develop evidence-based business cases, deploy appropriate technology solutions, build cross-sector partnerships, and create sustainable workforce development strategies. To discuss how these trends affect your organization and explore next steps, contact our featured experts below.

Building Bridges: Key Insights from the 2025 HCBS Conference and What They Mean for Your Organization

This is a comprehensive set of substance use disorderÌý(SUD)Ìýeducation materials for patients, families, educators, and non-prescribing providers.ÌýIn recognition of September being National Recovery Month, this document is fully downloadable for community use without restriction. ÌýÌý
The toolkit was made available through a joint effort of the California Department of Health Care Services Opioid Response Project and Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø. Coaching and technical assistance for this project was funded through DHCS by State Opioid Response Funds from SAMHSA. The bilingual patient education materials are written in accessible language for most audiences, in both Spanish and English.
The materials can be used to broadly disseminate information across a community or with individual patients, family members and non-prescribing providers. These SUD educational materials were created using the latest research and information available. They are meant to be concrete and easily accessible with simple language that promotes increased understanding of each topic. Some of the topics touched upon include evidenced-based treatment options such as Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).

This webinar was held October 22, 2025.
This webinar explored how states, local agencies, and community organizations can maximize Medicaid’s new 1115 demonstration authority to improve reentry outcomes for justice-involved individuals. Presenters discussed practical strategies for assessing health and social needs, building strong collaborations with community providers, and implementing effective Medicaid enrollment processes. Attendees gained insights into designing and operationalizing reentry programs that promote continuity of care, reduce recidivism, and support successful community reintegration. This session is ideal for State Medicaid agencies, carceral facilities, correctional healthcare companies, health plans, community-based organizations, and federally qualified health centers.
Learning Objectives:

Hospitals across the country are facing unprecedented levels of behavioral health (BH) challenges that impact every facet of operations, from the emergency department to discharge planning. Extended lengths of stay, ED boarding, workplace violence, and staff burnout present clinical issues and pose operational, financial, and reputational risks.
Individuals with BH needs arrive in emergency departments daily, even if the hospital lacks a dedicated BH inpatient unit. These patients require coordinated care across all clinical sites.
Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø offers an end-to-end partnership helping hospitals identify and implement solutions in ways that build internal capacity and deliver measurable results.
Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø partners with hospitals to address these challenges with a vision of improving care and operations. Our team offers practical, high-impact solutions that enhance patient care, support your workforce, streamline operations, and promote financial stability. Contact us to discuss how solutions can be tailored to your hospital’s unique needs. Let’s address your most urgent behavioral health challenges now, before they impact care delivery and financial stability.
Six Priority Areas
While every hospital faces unique behavioral health challenges, the pressures they create are consistent. Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø partners with your leadership and frontline teams to focus on six proven priority areas that create lasting impact. Together, we develop solutions that improve care, strengthen operations, and build resilience across your organization.
Value: Reduce length of stay, improve throughput, and protect staff safety.
Value: Improve continuity, patient satisfaction, and reduce high-cost utilization.
Value: Unlocking new revenue streams.
Value: Expand service capabilities while sharing risk and resources.
Value: Increase efficiency and retention through optimized operations.
Value: Reduce mortality, avoidable readmissions to EDs, and improve community health outcomes.
Proven Results
Our work with hospitals across the country delivers measurable, lasting improvements that strengthen care delivery, operational performance, and financial health.
Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø Differentiators
Many of our team members are former executives and clinical leaders from the behavioral health sector. They bring decades of experience leading behavioral health care in inpatient, outpatient and emergency department settings. Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø provides the depth, agility, and collaborative approach that hospitals need to address today’s most urgent behavioral health challenges while also building capacity for the future. Our proven track record includes hospitals of all sizes and structures, ensuring that solutions are tailored to your market, patient mix, and resources.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based behavior therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders. In recent years, the diagnosis of ASD and subsequent demand for ABA services has increased. State Medicaid administrations and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are tracking increased ABA utilization and wait times for these services, and in some situations are investigating quality of care and/or fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) concerns. To optimize quality care for members, MCOs who cover these services must have policies regarding ABA benefit structure, clinical guidelines, utilization management, and service delivery. Plans also need to monitor for and identify possible FWA concerning documentation and/or billing practices for these services. MCOs with comprehensive ABA compliance and auditing programs can meet these critical needs.
Our team
Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íøâ€™s national presence keeps us at the forefront of ABA-related changes in multiple states. Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íøâ€™s team of behavioral health clinicians have years of experience conducting FWA audits and have specific training required to conduct detailed and meticulous ABA reviews. Our team includes operational and clinical subject-matter experts with board certifications in behavior analysis (BCBA, RBT) who can support auditing activities as well as policy review and revision. We will work with your organization’s team to provide the insights necessary to maximize ABA quality of care and cost efficiency.
How Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø can help
We work closely with MCOs to develop a customized scope of services that meet their unique ABA compliance, policy, and strategy needs.
We can help MCOs with:
We produce results
Our auditing team members have supported the SIUs of three Medicaid health plans in different states. We have demonstrated a 12:1 return on investment for our clients, based on associated recoupment of improper payments and estimated prevented loss.
If you have questions about our ABA compliance, policy, or strategic support services, contact our experts below.


The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) established in H.R. 1 represents one of the most significant federal investments in rural healthcare in decades. With $50 billion allocated between fiscal years 2026 and 2030, the program is designed to stabilize and transform rural health systems nationwide by supporting infrastructure, workforce development, and innovative care delivery models.
Administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the RHTP requires each state to submit a one-time application detailing a comprehensive rural health transformation plan. These plans must address eight core priorities, including improving access and outcomes, leveraging technology, fostering regional partnerships, and ensuring long-term financial solvency for rural entities. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the , with application materials expected to become available in mid-September and state submissions due in late fall 2025.
The experts at Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø, including our Information Services team (Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´ÍøIS), are tracking several state-level indicators and actions, including lead state agency points of contact, regulatory and public comment deadlines, and links to official notices. Following are the key takeaways from Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´ÍøIS State Action Tracker—a living resource for Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´ÍøIS subscribers, which will be updated with federal and state-level details such as state-selected RHTP categories and award amounts.
Initiative Alignment and Partner Engagement: Common Themes Across States
As of early September 2025, at least 15 states have begun structured intake to inform initiatives and uses of the RHTP funding—requests for information (RFIs), surveys, town halls, webinars—with others maintaining a planning posture pending release of CMS’s application template.
Common themes and approaches emerging from these activities include:
Looking Ahead
The emerging national landscape for RHTP initiatives is mixed. Early state movers and their engaged partners are building momentum and reducing execution risk, while others are preserving flexibility until additional federal guidance arrives. States waiting on CMS’s template may face challenges in coordinating stakeholders and finalizing priorities before the application deadline.
For providers and community-based organizations (CBOs), now is a critical time to engage. These organizations are uniquely positioned to shape state applications by sharing on-the-ground insights, identifying unmet needs, and proposing scalable, sustainable solutions. Participating in state RFIs, surveys, and town halls allow providers and CBOs to inform how funding is prioritized and deployed.
To prepare for the RHTP resources and support, healthcare organizations should:
Connect with Us
To support transparency during this fast-moving period, Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´ÍøIS has launched the RHTP State Action Tracker, a centralized resource for curating each state’s actions, agency leads, deadlines, and links to official notices. The tracker will be updated as CMS guidance is released and as states fill in details, such as selected categories and award amounts. For details about the RHTP, including the Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´ÍøIS State Action Tracker, contact Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø expertsÌýbelow.

This webinar was held on September 30, 2025.
Hospitals and health systems are under growing pressure to succeed in new value-based models that demand both operational transformation and strategic alignment. In this webinar, advisors from Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø, Wakely, an Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø Company and Nixon Peabody broke down the latest regulatory and contractual developments, explored lessons learned from the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model, and discussed how organizations can prepare for upcoming opportunities.
Speakers shared practical insights on:
This session was designed for hospital executives, provider organizations, payers, and policy leaders seeking to better understand how emerging value-based models will shape the future of care delivery and payment.
Featured Speaker:
Whitney Phelps, J.D., Partner Nixon Peabody

This webinar was held on September 17, 2025.
Medicaid managed care organizations face mounting pressure as enrollment patterns shift, federal policy evolves, and state budgets tighten. In this webinar, experts from Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´ÍøIS, Wakely, and Á¿×Ó×ÊÔ´Íø shared exclusive analysis of Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) financial performance, explored the implications of HR 1 and other federal policies, and offered State and MCO perspectives.
Learning Objectives
This webinar was for Medicaid managed care leaders, state officials, vendors, budget officers, and investors navigating financial pressures and policy shifts.