Laurel Karabatsos
Laurel Karabatsos is the director of the Medicaid Program Division which has primary responsibilities for Medicaid’s medical programs and benefits. Medicaid’s medical programs and benefits are provided through a spectrum of delivery models, ranging from managed care to fee-for-service. Programs and benefits include both physical health and behavioral health services. Prior to accepting her current position, Laurel served as managed or the Quality Improvement Section at the Department, where she was responsible for department program integrity functions, measuring health outcomes and client satisfaction across managed care and fee-for-service programs, conducting focus studies and quality interventions, evaluating health plan performance and select utilization management activities. Laurel holds a Masters Degree in Organizational Management and a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and Woman Studies.
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
