Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Tackling Hypertension in Medicaid Through Community Partnerships with Dr. Kara Odom Walker
Mar 14, 2026
Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Aetna Medicaid Chief Medical Officer and family physician with state health leadership experience. She discusses a new collaboration to improve hypertension control in underserved communities. Topics include data-driven targeting of four states, community health center partnerships, tackling social drivers of health, and plans to scale beyond hypertension.
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Hypertension Offers High-Impact Opportunity In Medicaid
- Uncontrolled hypertension is a major, preventable driver of early death among Medicaid members and offers large-scale impact opportunities.
- Aetna partners with NAC to combine payer data and community health centers' reach across four target states for measurable scale.
Pilot States Chosen For Need And Partnership Strength
- Aetna launched the initiative in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Virginia because data showed the widest gaps and they have strong local partners.
- The plan is to test, refine, then spread successful models beyond these states.
Use Data To Scale Proven Local Interventions
- Start with data to identify where gaps are and scale what already works rather than reinventing care models.
- Combine prescribing with community-informed services and local resources to improve outcomes.