Medicaid reimbursement for community violence intervention and prevention (CVI): a multi-state policy implementation case study

Abstract Background Violence has fluctuated in the United States in recent years. Additionally, policing practices have been challenged, especially in neighborhoods of color. Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs have emerged as an effective policy to address violence through neighborhood-c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sheetal Ranjan, C. Clare Strange, Katheryne Pugliese
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Health & Justice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-025-00327-7
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849314607991095296
author Sheetal Ranjan
C. Clare Strange
Katheryne Pugliese
author_facet Sheetal Ranjan
C. Clare Strange
Katheryne Pugliese
author_sort Sheetal Ranjan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Violence has fluctuated in the United States in recent years. Additionally, policing practices have been challenged, especially in neighborhoods of color. Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs have emerged as an effective policy to address violence through neighborhood-centered resources, trauma-informed care, and credible messengers, without full reliance on law enforcement officials. However, inconsistent funding challenges the feasibility and sustainability of these programs. In 2021 several states introduced policies to allocate Medicaid reimbursement for CVI services offering a promising solution to a more sustainable stream of funding. Methods This study uses rigorous qualitative analysis to evaluate the implementation of Medicaid reimbursement policies in California, Illinois, and Connecticut, applying the Exploration-Preparation-Implementation-Sustainment (EPIS) model. An analysis of secondary documentation and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from the first three states to implement the policy. Stakeholders were recruited from a variety of policy, medical, and non-profit sectors to provide their perspectives and expertise on implementation. Results Interviews with stakeholders from policy, medical, and non-profit sectors and a deep analysis of secondary documentation identifies key successes and barriers to effective implementation of Medicaid reimbursement policies across the United States. Acknowledging the barriers of implementation highlights where policy planning and development fails to be properly implemented on the ground. Findings emphasize the need for state-specific policy adaptation, collaboration amongst policymakers and practitioners, and sufficient training for on-the-ground CVI staff members. Conclusions Implementation of a Medicaid reimbursement policy for CVI programs could improve the efficacy and sustainability of such programs. However, states need to be aware of the challenges that may arise during the planning and implementation phases. The findings from this study reveal that policy makers, service providers and medical professionals need to be involved and collaborative throughout the planning and implementation process of the policy. States that are planning to implement these policies should assess whether they are ready to implement the policy to ensure that it is successful in the long term.
format Article
id doaj-art-34628b945a2c4016b94ec5fb4bbb1c5b
institution Kabale University
issn 2194-7899
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Health & Justice
spelling doaj-art-34628b945a2c4016b94ec5fb4bbb1c5b2025-08-20T03:52:24ZengBMCHealth & Justice2194-78992025-04-0113112410.1186/s40352-025-00327-7Medicaid reimbursement for community violence intervention and prevention (CVI): a multi-state policy implementation case studySheetal Ranjan0C. Clare Strange1Katheryne Pugliese2Montclair State UniversityMontclair State UniversityMontclair State UniversityAbstract Background Violence has fluctuated in the United States in recent years. Additionally, policing practices have been challenged, especially in neighborhoods of color. Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs have emerged as an effective policy to address violence through neighborhood-centered resources, trauma-informed care, and credible messengers, without full reliance on law enforcement officials. However, inconsistent funding challenges the feasibility and sustainability of these programs. In 2021 several states introduced policies to allocate Medicaid reimbursement for CVI services offering a promising solution to a more sustainable stream of funding. Methods This study uses rigorous qualitative analysis to evaluate the implementation of Medicaid reimbursement policies in California, Illinois, and Connecticut, applying the Exploration-Preparation-Implementation-Sustainment (EPIS) model. An analysis of secondary documentation and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from the first three states to implement the policy. Stakeholders were recruited from a variety of policy, medical, and non-profit sectors to provide their perspectives and expertise on implementation. Results Interviews with stakeholders from policy, medical, and non-profit sectors and a deep analysis of secondary documentation identifies key successes and barriers to effective implementation of Medicaid reimbursement policies across the United States. Acknowledging the barriers of implementation highlights where policy planning and development fails to be properly implemented on the ground. Findings emphasize the need for state-specific policy adaptation, collaboration amongst policymakers and practitioners, and sufficient training for on-the-ground CVI staff members. Conclusions Implementation of a Medicaid reimbursement policy for CVI programs could improve the efficacy and sustainability of such programs. However, states need to be aware of the challenges that may arise during the planning and implementation phases. The findings from this study reveal that policy makers, service providers and medical professionals need to be involved and collaborative throughout the planning and implementation process of the policy. States that are planning to implement these policies should assess whether they are ready to implement the policy to ensure that it is successful in the long term.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-025-00327-7Community violence intervention (CVI)Medicaid reimbursementViolence preventionPolicy implementation
spellingShingle Sheetal Ranjan
C. Clare Strange
Katheryne Pugliese
Medicaid reimbursement for community violence intervention and prevention (CVI): a multi-state policy implementation case study
Health & Justice
Community violence intervention (CVI)
Medicaid reimbursement
Violence prevention
Policy implementation
title Medicaid reimbursement for community violence intervention and prevention (CVI): a multi-state policy implementation case study
title_full Medicaid reimbursement for community violence intervention and prevention (CVI): a multi-state policy implementation case study
title_fullStr Medicaid reimbursement for community violence intervention and prevention (CVI): a multi-state policy implementation case study
title_full_unstemmed Medicaid reimbursement for community violence intervention and prevention (CVI): a multi-state policy implementation case study
title_short Medicaid reimbursement for community violence intervention and prevention (CVI): a multi-state policy implementation case study
title_sort medicaid reimbursement for community violence intervention and prevention cvi a multi state policy implementation case study
topic Community violence intervention (CVI)
Medicaid reimbursement
Violence prevention
Policy implementation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-025-00327-7
work_keys_str_mv AT sheetalranjan medicaidreimbursementforcommunityviolenceinterventionandpreventioncviamultistatepolicyimplementationcasestudy
AT cclarestrange medicaidreimbursementforcommunityviolenceinterventionandpreventioncviamultistatepolicyimplementationcasestudy
AT katherynepugliese medicaidreimbursementforcommunityviolenceinterventionandpreventioncviamultistatepolicyimplementationcasestudy