Podcasts about Rural health

The Big Unlock · Lisa Hunter, Senior Director of Federal Policy & Advocacy, United States of Care In this episode, Lisa Hunter, Senior Director of Federal Policy and Advocacy at United States of Care, discusses how her organization is working to ensure every American has access to affordable, high-quality care, with a particular focus on rural communities. She explains the new Rural Health Transformation Program—a 50-billion-dollar, five-year federal investment that gives states a rare opportunity to redesign rural health delivery, address workforce gaps, and move toward “patient first care” models that emphasize coordination, whole-person care, and sustainable payment structures.​​ Lisa highlights a growing trust gap around AI in healthcare, noting that patients are more comfortable with AI in back-office and ambient use cases compared to roles that feel like they replace clinicians. She stresses the need for rigorous listening, research, and language that resonates with people, so policy and technology decisions reflect real experiences rather than abstract concepts. Take a listen.

Missouri Farm Bureau (MOFB) has introduced a major new health initiative offering a wide range of affordable, high-quality coverage options tailored to individuals, families, rural communities, and the self-employed. These plans feature flexible coverage levels, deductibles, co-pays, and preventive benefits, with choices across individual medical and supplemental options and both In-Network and Out-of-Network providers. Prospective enrollees should meet with their local MOFB Insurance agent for guidance and application support once enrollment begins. MOFB Health Plans are available exclusively to members; Missourians interested in joining can visit MOFBHealthPlans.com to learn more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy Thanksgiving from Rural Health Today! In this episode, JJ takes a moment to give thanks to those who give so much to make rural hospitals and communities possible. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! ⁠https://x.com/RuralHealthPod⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665⁠  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! ⁠https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠ ⁠https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠ 

The SS Al RawdahFor the first time ever the families of many of the 207 Republican internees held on the Al Rawdah prison ship between 1940 and 1941 met in Belfast. 85 years after their loved ones were interned on the prison hulk the families came together for the launch of Tom Hartley's insightful account of that period.At the beginning of his remarks Tom invited the relatives present to stand. There was spontaneous and sustained applause from the rest of the audience. It was an emotional moment, for the relatives and for those watching, in what was an evening of memory and recollection.Mary McConville whose Uncle ‘Rocky' Burns was held on the Al Rawdah, introduced the event and Tom Hartley explained to the relatives and audience his motivation for writing the book and the forensic approach he took in collecting information. He also drew attention to the poignant fact that two days earlier was the 85 anniversary of the only prisoner to die on the Al Rawdah, John Gaffney, who fell from his hammock and hit his head.Tom reminded us all that following partition in 1920 the Unionist Regime at Stormont moved quickly to consolidate its power and to ensure that nationalists and republicans living in the North posed no threat to their domination. Legislation was introduced to gerrymander electoral boundaries, and deny hundreds of thousands of citizens, mostly nationalist, access to a vote in local elections. Local Councils with nationalist majorities became unionist controlled. Discrimination in employment and housing was built into the structure of the state.A Space in which Dialogue is PossibleLast week Queens University , Belfast and Dundalk  Institute of Technology (DkIT) announced a significant new partnership that will establish DKiT as a University College of Queen's University. The all-island educational and economic potential is enormous. Last week also, the Good Friday Agreement Oireachtas committee was told that survival rates for children with congenital heart conditions on the island of Ireland now match the best results anywhere in the world. This is because of 15 years of co-operation between the health services North and South.To add to this good news, the Shared Island Unit announced an additional €50 million for projects and it emerged that a number of MEPs have written to the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola requesting special “observer” status for representatives from the North.The DUP leader Gavin Robinson immediately opposed the EU move. The perennial default position of the DUP and others within political unionism is to condemn and oppose any positive progress. This resistance to change is evident almost daily in the negative atmosphere that has been created in the Assembly, in the Executive and on local councils.The reality is that unionism has gone backwards to the 'NEVER, NEVER, NEVER' stance of past decades. This resistance to change reflects the essential insecurity of political unionism.None of this is new. Anyone with a basic understanding of unionist history since the plantation, and especially since the Home Rule struggle of the late 19th century and into partition, understands this.

For the People is circling back with the New England Rural Health Association. We'll recap their recent conference which was held here in Connecticut, and learn about how our state may benefit from the organization's recently announced Rural Health Transformation Program. Rural communities are closer than you think, so tune in and find out why their health needs are so unique.

As 2025 draws to a close, millions of Americans stand at the edge of a healthcare cliff. Sister Mary Haddad, President and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, returns to The Healthy Project to sound the alarm on an urgent policy crisis that threatens to undermine healthcare access for working families nationwide.Following the passage of major Medicaid cuts in July that will affect 10 million people, enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act are set to expire at the end of the year. The result? An estimated 4.2 million more Americans are losing coverage, with millions facing dramatic cost increases. For rural communities already struggling with limited resources, the impact could be devastating.This episode examines the intersection of healthcare policy, economic justice, and human dignity. Sister Mary draws on Catholic social teaching to frame healthcare access not merely as a policy preference but as a moral imperative rooted in the inherent worth of every person. She offers a clear-eyed assessment of how hospital closures, emergency department overcrowding, and the loss of telehealth flexibilities create a perfect storm threatening the most vulnerable among us.Beyond diagnosis, this conversation explores solutions. What must Congress do immediately? How can healthcare systems balance mission-driven care with financial sustainability? What role should everyday citizens play in advocacy? And perhaps most importantly: what does hope look like when systems are breaking down?In This Episode:The Immediate CrisisUnderstanding the connection between July's Medicaid cuts and expiring tax creditsWhy 4.2 million working Americans face losing coverageThe "sticker shock" families are experiencing during open enrollmentCongressional gridlock and the December deadlineRural Healthcare Under PressureLower median incomes meeting higher insurance costsThe competitive disadvantage of rural insurance marketsHospital closures and service reductions on the horizonThe hidden costs: hotel stays and hours-long drives for basic careEmergency Departments as Safety NetWhy ERs become primary care when coverage disappearsThe economic burden of treating delayed, acute conditionsFederal mandates and the impossible position of hospitalsTriage challenges when systems are overwhelmedThe Telehealth QuestionHow COVID revealed telehealth's essential roleTemporary extensions vs. permanent policy solutionsAccess equity and the digital divideReal stories from rural South DakotaMoral Framework & AdvocacyHealthcare as inseparable from human dignityOperating as a "ministry that functions as a business"The responsibility of citizens to engage with the governmentMoving from despair to concrete actionLooking ForwardStrengthening existing coverage systemsThe critical need for primary care investmentAcknowledging that U.S. healthcare is "broken"Building coalitions across providers, payers, and governmentSister Mary's perspective is particularly vital for those interested in the social determinants of health, healthcare economics, policy advocacy, and faith-based approaches to social justice. Her framing of hope as "concrete actions" rather than abstract aspiration offers a powerful counter-narrative to policy fatalism.Guest: Sister Mary Haddad, RSM, President & CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United StatesResources: Learn more and take action: www.chausa.orgShow Notes:July 2025: "One Big Beautiful Bill" passes with major Medicaid cuts affecting 10M peoplePremium tax credits expiring December 31, 20254.2 million Americans projected to lose coverage without extensionRural areas particularly vulnerable due to limited market competitionTelehealth flexibilities extended only through January 31, 2026Emergency departments face increased burden as primary care access shrinksCatholic social teaching emphasizes healthcare access as fundamental human rightRelated Episodes: June 2025 - Medicaid at a Crossroads: A Conversation with Sr. Mary Haddad (Part 1)About The Healthy Project: The Healthy Project explores the systems, policies, and people shaping health and healthcare in America. Host Corey Dion Lewis brings thoughtful conversations about how we can build a healthier, more equitable future. ★ Support this podcast ★

“The 2026 budget neglects rural healthcare. Nursing allowances have been cut, and critical health needs are being sidelined for other priorities. This is an unhealthy decision,” - Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, MP for Abuakwa South.

One of the last things you need to worry about if you or a loved one needs expensive durable medical equipment or certain medical supplies is out of pocket costs. So to open the show today, we want to introduce you to the founder of Wheel It Forward, an innovative Fairfield County nonprofit that provides a durable medical equipment lending service and more - all at no direct cost. Then we'll reconnect with our community partners at Abilis, which is celebrating the opening of its first medical model residential home in Fairfield County for adults with complex medical needs and developmental disabilities. Tune in and hear about the journey toward completion of this fully accessible residence and more. And we'll close circling back as promised with the New England Rural Health Association. We'll recap their recent conference which was held here in Connecticut, and learn about how our state may benefit from the organization's recently announced Rural Health Transformation Program. 

The 2025 Rural Health Forum brought together medical leaders from across the region to discuss the biggest issues facing rural health care. Hear from panelists Lisa DeKezel, Dr. Mark Meeker, Robin Henry, Patrick Caplis, Patrick Osterman, Gloria Bamforth, Bill Murdock, Luke Raymond, Ali Sours, Eric Rahn, Jenna Link, Representative Norine Hammond, Melissa Shepherd, Michele Gabriel, and William Hayes.

Today we're back with Scott Becker discussing how to navigate the noisy world of healthcare news. Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ⁠⁠⁠ruralhealthtoday.com⁠⁠⁠. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! ⁠⁠https://x.com/RuralHealthPod⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665⁠⁠  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠⁠  Follow Scott Becker! ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottbeckermw/⁠ Follow Becker's Hospital Review! ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/asc-communications/⁠ ⁠https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/⁠  ⁠https://www.facebook.com/@BeckersHospitalReview/⁠ ⁠https://x.com/beckershr⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/hospitalreview1⁠

Mark H. Knelson, MD, thought his IR career had come to an early end—until he discovered locum tenens work.At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Knelson heard that one of the radiology groups in his town was short on IRs. Because it was so close to his home—approximately 13 minutes—he offered to help, including taking call as needed.In  the audio version of "The unexpected locum" (Fall 2025 IR Quarterly), senior editorial manager Hope Racine describes the career of Mark H. Knelson, MD, who shared his unplanned path to locums work.  Support the show

Jeff Monosso - National Rural Health Day

In this episode, health leaders from Iowa, Maine and Mississippi share their strategies for revitalizing rural healthcare. We hear excerpts from an ASTHO media briefing featuring ASTHO members as they address the urgent challenges facing millions of rural Americans, including healthcare provider shortages, transportation inadequacies, and significant health disparities. The discussion highlights collaborative, evidence-based initiatives designed to ensure the long-term sustainability and quality of rural care.ASTHO Deskside Media Briefing on Rural HealthFrom Policy to Practice: Supporting Brain Health and Caregiving at the State Level WebinarFunding & Collaboration Opportunities

Health Calls Season 6, Episode 6 focuses on addressing food insecurity in rural communities. Host Brian Reardon and Executive Producer Josh Matejka welcome Lindsey Meyers, MBA, Vice President of Communications, PR, and Community Engagement at Avera Health. Lindsey shares how Avera's community health needs assessments revealed rising food insecurity across its largely rural footprint, prompting the creation of wellness pantries within clinics. These pantries provide emergency food supplies and connect patients to sustainable resources, complementing mobile food pantries and partnerships with Feeding South Dakota. Lindsey explains why food access is essential to whole-person care and how collaboration among clinicians, volunteers, and community partners drives success. The conversation highlights the program's rapid growth, its impact on patients, and underscores Catholic health care's commitment to meeting social determinants of health and evolving to serve community needs. Health Calls is available on the following podcast streaming platforms:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLearn more about The Catholic Health Association of the United States at www.chausa.org.

Value-based care leads rural health innovation, agrivoltaics grows food and opportunity, Brother Placid shares prairie wisdom, and Lyle Wilds offers a candid path to redemption.

Dr. Phil Shaffer and I are back in SC to testify yet again against a bill that would permit unsupervised NP and PA practice after 2,000 hours of experience. In this episode, I share subcommittee chair Senator Tom Davis's perspectives that SC will lose funding from the Rural Health Transformation project without scope expansion. You'll also hear a letter of support from the FTC Office of Policy Planning supporting scope expansion, and PPP's response explaining why the FTC should reconsider it's position in light of newer data.PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Join Dr. Clancy and his guest, Dr. Hinkle, as they discuss rural health workforce shortages and best practices to have a positive impact.  CME Credit Available:  https://uiowa.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=0&EID=80982  Host: Gerard Clancy, MD Senior Associate Dean for External Affairs Professor of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Guests: Hana Hinkle, MD Assistant Dean for Rural Health Professions and Director of the National Center for Rural Health Professions Director, Illinois Area Health Education Center Network Program Research; Assistant Professor Departmetn of Family and Community Medicine University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford Financial Disclosures:  Dr. Gerard Clancy, his guests, and the members of the Rounding@IOWA planning committee have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Nurse: The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine designates this activity for a maximum of 0.75 ANCC contact hour. Physician: The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Other Health Care Providers: A certificate of completion will be available after successful completion of the course. (It is the responsibility of licensees to determine if this continuing education activity meets the requirements of their professional licensure board.) References/Resources:  National Center for Rural Health Professions, University of Illinois College of Medicine: https://ncrhp.uic.edu/   Illinois AHEC Network Program: https://ilahec.uic.edu/  Rural Medical Training Collaborative: https://ruralmtc.org/   Hinkle, H. E., Sheppard, A. B., Fess, K., Olson, H. R., & Squires, E. (2024). Key themes of community-oriented primary care projects from a longitudinal, rural interprofessional health professions curriculum (1997–2023). BMC Medical Education, 24(1), 1215. https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-024-06190-8 

Montana health officials have submitted an application for the state's share of a $50 billion rural health fund. Montana will receive at least $500 million over five years. The federal funding is aimed at helping rural hospitals fill the gap left by Medicaid cuts

Alongside the passage of billions of dollars in Medicaid spending reductions over a decade, Oklahoma is also vying for an opportunity available to all 50 states to fund sustainable rural health care initiatives.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags

The state of national healthcare has never been quite this tumultuous. As funding hits the chopping block and rural hospitals scramble to prop their doors open, we look to organizations like the MHA to provide much-needed guidance. We'll talk about advocacy leadership, the ripple effect of funding cuts, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPod https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest on social media! https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-appel-1b8684b/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/michiganhospitals/posts/?feedView=all https://www.facebook.com/MichiganHospitals

On today's 'Best Of PHRME' episode, ASTHO revisits an interview with Dan Edney, ASTHO member and state health officer with the Mississippi Department of Health, who explains what the state is doing to meet the public health needs of rural communities across the state. This episode also features a segment with Shirley Orr, executive director of the Association of Public Health Nurses and lead speaker for ASTHO's Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab series, who discusses what motivates nurses to enter the public health field. The fifth and final webinar in the series is scheduled for Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. ET. ASTHO Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab Sustaining Accreditation Through Smart Documentation Systems

Send us a textWhat if rural hospitals could thrive instead of just survive?In this episode of CareTalk Executive Features, WVU Medicine President & CEO Albert L. Wright, Jr. joins host David Williams to share how the health system is redefining rural healthcare, expanding access, advancing innovation, and aligning care delivery through initiatives like Peak Health.

Lisa Bari, Vice President of Policy and Partnerships at Innovaccer, shares how public health departments can become better prepared to use AI by addressing their underlying data infrastructure; Angela Davis, Project Coordinator with the Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center at Montana State University, explains how they developed a statewide AmeriCorps program grounded in health to address the population health needs of the highly rural state; a new ASTHO State Health Policy Update describes the legislative changes taking place across the country as a result of recent changes to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP); and on Wednesday, November 19th, ASTHO will close out its Public Health Nursing Learning Lab Series with a session on Public Health Nursing Workforce Culture. Innovaccer: How State and Local Public Health Leaders can Promote AI and Data Governance Montana State University: Montana State helping launch statewide AmeriCorps program for community health ASTHO Health Policy Update: States Seek Policy Guidance Beyond ACIP Vaccine Recommendations ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab - A Series

Each day, SDPB brings you statewide news coverage. We then compile those stories into a daily podcast.

Healthcare strategy has a far-reaching impact on patients, systems and communities. Lee Ann Odom is here to share her perspective and insight as a principal at PYA. We'll talk about patient care, healthcare legislation, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPod https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest on social media! https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeann-odom-557180126/

In this episode, Lynn Barr of Caravan Health and John Budd of ECG Management Consultants discuss the urgent challenges facing rural hospitals, the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, and strategies to move beyond short-term fixes toward sustainable care models and new payment approaches.

Dr. Maria Muzik is a professor of psychiatry and OB-GYN at the University of Michigan, co-director of Zero to Thrive & Strong Roots Programs, medical director of Perinatal & Reproductive Psychiatry, medical director of MC3 Perinatal, co-director of Partnering for the Future Clinic, and more. In this episode of Rural Health Today, Dr. Muzik shares how perinatal psychiatry plays a vital role in maternal and infant health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPodhttps://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest! https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/psychiatry/maria-muzik-md-mschttps://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-muzik-zero-2-thrive/  Resources https://zerotothrive.org/ https://zerotothrive.org/strong-roots/perinatal-dbt/ https://mc3michigan.org/

Today - Congressman Juan Ciscomani is urging federal health officials to make sure rural Arizona hospitals — not just big-city providers — get their fair share of the country’s largest-ever investment in rural healthcare.Support the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's podcast features an interview with Dan Shane, PhD, Associate Professor with the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, about opportunities for applying technological advances in rural health and human services, potential challenges, and future avenues of development. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/podcast/tech-innovation-oct-2025 Exploring Rural Health is an RHIhub podcast.

On this week's episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, our guests join Rick Johnson to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Plan, healthcare amidst a government shutdown and WV Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductions.

The Normanton Solar Farm in the Gulf of Carpentaria can power an area almost twice the size of Tasmania. Owner and operator Doug Scouller has turned off the farm after eight years, citing soured contract negotiations with Ergon Energy.

Rural communities are the backbone of America—growing our food, fueling our economy, and sustaining traditions that reach far beyond county lines. But in Pennsylvania, as in much of the country, rural health is under strain. Provider shortages, rising rates of chronic disease, and shrinking access to specialty services like obstetrics (maternal health) leave families and entire towns at risk.Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health Director Lisa Davis has spent more than 30 years working to address these challenges. In this episode, Lisa shares how rural communities and state leaders are finding creative solutions to ensure care is within reach—from deploying community health workers to expanding telehealth and more. These strategies and innovations reveal a bigger truth: rural health is inseparable from the nation's health.  Lisa Davis has directed the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health since 1999, providing leadership on networking, coordination, and technical assistance across the state's rural hospitals, health clinics, training programs, and community partners. She has previously held roles at Penn State's Department of Health Policy & Administration. Her work history spans a range of public health fields, including nutrition, mental health, substance use recovery, and correctional health. More Links and Information  Check out more Fors Marsh Media Connect or partner with Fors MarshLearn more about the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health

Federal lawmakers this summer created a $50 billion fund to stabilize rural hospitals and other providers. State health officials want public comment on how to spend that money.

The government is touring the country as part of a Rural Health roadshow, aimed at hearing directly from communities about their healthcare needs. Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey spoke to Corin Dann.

Show NotesOrigin story: From pharma to inpatient BH—witnessing 7–10 day transformations.Definition reset: BH includes SUD, PTSD, SMI, and cognitive issues (e.g., dementia).Stigma & seniors: “Toughen up” culture vs. the art + science of psychiatry.By the numbers: Many struggle; only about half receive treatment; rural access gaps.SC lens: A significant share of South Carolinians live with BH conditions; access differs by geography.Double burden for seniors: Depression/anxiety + chronic disease = worse outcomes if untreated.Integration works: More check-ins, coordinated teams, better adherence, fewer ER visits/hospitalizations.Your Health approach: Prevention, integration, outcomes—BH as part of every care plan.Personal reflection: Normalizing conversations reduces shame and opens doors to help.Set-up for Part 2: Social media's role, early intervention, and the provider playbook. www.YourHealth.Org

Catherine Jones, Senior Analyst of Government Affairs at ASTHO, breaks down what states need to know about the application for the Rural Health Transformation Program, and discusses ASTHO's recent partnership with Cornerstone Government Affairs to host two expert panels on the subject; Dr. Lena Heilmann, Director of the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, shares the strategies her state employed to achieve the lowest youth suicide rate in Colorado since 2007; on October 7th, PHIG Partners will hold an informational Q&A session for agencies interested in applying to Wave 2 of the Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program; and take a trip through the show's past in celebration of today's 1000th episode.  ASTHO Blog: Federal, State, and Stakeholder Perspectives on the Rural Health Transformation Fund Colorado Dept of Public Health and Environment: Youth Suicide Rate in Colorado Drops to Lowest Level since 2007, CDPHE Committed to Ensuring Trend Continues ASTHO Blog: Public Health Approaches to Preventing Suicide and Promoting Mental Well-Being ASTHO Report: Public Health's Role in Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention ASTHO Legal Mapping Center: Suicide Prevention Offices and Committees Legal Map PHIG Partners: Public Health Data Modernization IC Program Wave 2 Q&A (Session 2)  

Today we're talking about maternal health sepsis and barriers to sepsis care. Dr. Melissa Bauer is here to share her perspective and insight as a birthing center anesthesiologist and leader in maternal health sepsis prevention. We'll talk about diagnosing sepsis and serious maternal health conditions, equipping patients with the education they need, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPodhttps://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest on social media! https://www.facebook.com/dukehealthhttps://x.com/DukeHealthhttps://www.instagram.com/dukehealth/# https://www.linkedin.com/company/duke-university-health-system/

On this episode of Rural Health Today, we're revisiting our season on maternity care for a Rural Health Answers episode, where we ask our guest a question or two about something our listeners want to know. JJ is asking Karla Weng, Director of Program Management at Stratis Health, “What is the CMS Maternal Morbidity Structural Measure and how can critical access hospitals attain the birthing-friendly hospital ranking?” Resources The National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (NNPQC) AIM | Alliance For Innovation On Maternal Health Birthing-Friendly Hospitals and Health Systems | Provider Data Catalog Maternal Morbidity Measure reporting information and attestation guide: Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) Program Measures Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPodhttps://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest on social media! https://x.com/StratisHealth https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratis-health/ https://www.youtube.com/user/stratishealth1 

In this episode, Michael chats with Michael Backus, President and CEO of Oswego Health; Brian Fisher, Managing Director at BRG; and Dr. Julia Clark, Managing Director at BRG. Together, they discuss the realities rural hospitals are facing; what Oswego Health is currently experiencing in upstate New York; innovative and collaborative approaches necessary to rethink operating models; how BRG Healthcare is working with rural hospitals to help bolster operations; and how partnerships can serve as a winning strategy to help rural hospitals overcome operational barriers.   This episode and the two-part series are sponsored by BRG. Visit www.thinkbrg.com/healthcare to learn more.

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: KFF, “House Committee on Appropriations Approves FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor HHS) Appropriations Bill & Accompanying Report,” September 11, 2025, https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/house-committee-on-appropriations-approves-fy-2026-labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related-agencies-labor-hhs-appropriations-bill-accompanying-report/.  Saving Rural Hospitals, “Stopping the Loss of Rural Maternity Care,” 2025, https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Maternity_Care.html.  Kristen Jordan Shamus, Beki San Martin, “Hospital in Michigan's U.P. to close birthing unit, widening gaps in access to care,” September 9, 2025, https://www.freep.com/story/news/health/2025/09/08/aspirus-ironwood-hospital-closes-birthing-unit-shortage-cuts-michigan/85997851007/, Detroit Free Press.  Madeline Ashley, “US maternity care cuts continue to deepen,” September 5, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/us-maternity-care-cuts-continue-to-deepen/?origin=BHRE&utm_source=BHRE&utm_medium=email&utm_content=newsletter&oly_enc_id=8018I7467278H7C, Becker's Hospital Review. Jakob Emerson, “CMS issues guidance on Medicaid state-directed payment limits,” September 11, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/cms-issues-guidance-on-medicaid-state-directed-payment-limits/, Becker's Hospital Review.  Andrew Cass, “15 hospitals closing departments or ending services,” September 10, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/10-hospitals-closing-departments-or-ending-services-8/, Becker's Hospital Review.  Mariah Taylor, “Oklahoma hospital reopens ED 1 year after tornado,” September 3, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/uncategorized/oklahoma-hospital-reopens-ed-1-year-after-tornado/?origin=BHRE&utm_source=BHRE&utm_medium=email&utm_content=newsletter&oly_enc_id=8018I7467278H7C, Becker's Hospital Review. Mercy Health/Love County Hospital and Clinic, “New Emergency Room Is Open 24 Hours a Day,” September 2, 2025, https://www.mercyhealthlovecounty.com/news/view/731.  Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

Welcome back to Rural Health Summit! In this season, we're sitting down with a series of guests at a statewide annual summit meeting, where many healthcare executives and leaders across the state meet to review the last year and collaborate for the next. In each episode, JJ will ask the guest to give us an update on their hospital or healthcare organization and touch base, so to speak, on the healthcare issues they see as most pressing in their corner of rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/RuralHealthPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Dr. Dan Edney, ASTHO Member and State Health Officer of the Mississippi State Department of Health, and Dr. Susan Kansagra, Chief Medical Officer at ASTHO, discuss the Rural Health Transformation Program and the recent ASTHO panels that covered what states can expect and how some agencies are preparing; Tim Rosselet, Manager of Digital Learning and Design at ASTHO, shares more about Thursday's upcoming Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate webinar session on emotional intelligence skills in the public health workplace; ASTHO is looking for state agencies to apply to participate in ethical wastewater surveillance trainings, which will take place in-person in four selected states; and ASTHO's evidence-based technical packages can help departments improve community health interventions with tactical tools and strategies.  ASTHO Blog: Understanding and Applying for the Rural Health Transformation Program ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 3, Session 1: Building Emotional Intelligence Skills ASTHO Web Page: Ethical Analysis for Infectious Disease Wastewater Surveillance Training Opportunity ASTHO Resource: Evidence-Based Public Health  

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. Check out the Organ Transplant Surveillance Dashboard: https://tableau.hdw.hrsa.gov/t/HDW/views/AOOS-NonUseDashboard/AOOS-NonUseDashboard?%3Aembed=y Read the study on urban hospitals reclassifying as rural: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/urban-hospitals-increasingly-reclassified-as-rural News sources for this episode: Diane Eastabrook, “Home health groups press for a piece of rural health funding,” September 2, 2025, https://www.modernhealthcare.com/post-acute-care/mh-rural-health-transformation-fund-home-health/, Modern Healthcare. National Rural Health Association, “Rural Health Transformation Program Summary,” https://www.ruralhealth.us/nationalruralhealth/media/documents/advocacy/2025/rural-health-transformation-program-summary.pdf Lindsey Culli,  “Urban Hospitals Increasingly Reclassified as Rural, Drawing Medicare Benefits Meant for Rural Communities,” August 1, 2025, https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/urban-hospitals-increasingly-reclassified-as-rural, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Yang Wang et. al, “Sharp Rise In Urban Hospitals With Rural Status In Medicare, 2017-23,” August 4, 2025, https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.00019?journalCode=hlthaff, Health Affairs.  Jamie Godwin et, al, “Medicare Advantage Enrollees Account for 25% of all Inpatient Hospital Days,” August 26, 2025, https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-enrollees-account-for-a-rising-share-of-inpatient-hospital-days/, Kaiser Family Foundation.  Arielle Zionts, “Rural Hospitals Questions Whether They Can Afford Medicare Advantage Contracts,” April 8, 2025, https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/rural-hospitals-private-medicare-advantage-contracts-reimbursements/, KFF Health News.  Madeline Ashley, “20 hospital closures in 2025,” August 25, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/2-hospital-closures-in-2025/, Becker's Hospital Review.  Paige Twenter, “HHS expands oversight into organ transplant network,” August 29, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/patient-safety-outcomes/hhs-expands-oversight-into-organ-transplant-network/, Becker's Clinical Leadership. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “HHS Expands Oversight of Organ Transplant System with New Surveillance Tool,” August 27, 2025, https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hrsa-organ-allocation-dashboard.html.  Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

Welcome back to Rural Health Summit! In this season, we're sitting down with a series of guests at a statewide annual summit meeting, where many healthcare executives and leaders across the state meet to review the last year and collaborate for the next. In each episode, JJ will ask the guest to give us an update on their hospital or healthcare organization and touch base, so to speak, on the healthcare issues they see as most pressing in their corner of rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/RuralHealthPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Madison Hluchan, ASTHO Assistant Director of Medicaid Health Systems Partnerships, details how a new ASTHO resource can help your team with the Rural Health Transformation Program; and JoAnne Deehr, ASTHO Senior Analyst for State Health Policy, shares prevention and response policies to reduce overdoses involving synthetic opioids. ASTHO Blog Article: Understanding and Applying for the Rural Health Transformation Program ASTHO Blog Article: Prevention and Response Policies to Reduce Overdoses Involving Synthetic Opioids ASTHO Web Page: Legislative Alerts  

Welcome back to Rural Health Summit! In this season, we're sitting down with a series of guests at a statewide annual summit meeting, where many healthcare executives and leaders across the state meet to review the last year and collaborate for the next. In each episode, JJ will ask the guest to give us an update on their hospital or healthcare organization and touch base, so to speak, on the healthcare issues they see as most pressing in their corner of rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/RuralHealthPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: Phillip L. Swagel, Director, “CBO's Estimate of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Effects of Public Law 119-21,” August 15, 2025, https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2025-08/61659-SPAYGO.pdf, Congressional Budget Office. Bill Heniff Jr., “Budget Enforcement Procedures: The Senate Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Rule,” January 9, 2023, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RL31943, Congress.gov. Madeline Ashley, “CBO report warns of nearly $500B in potential Medicare cuts,” August 18, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/cbo-report-warns-of-nearly-500b-in-potential-medicare-cuts/, Becker's Hospital Review. Alex Kacik, “Looming uninsured surge may overwhelm ERs. Here's who can help.” August 18, 2025, https://www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/mh-medicaid-cuts-er-overcrowdfng-kaiser-permanente/, Modern Healthcare. Michigan Center for Rural Health, “Michigan Center for Rural Health Releases Rural Health Equity Plan Focused on Advancing Equity in Rural Michigan,” August 18, 2025, https://mcrh.msu.edu/News-and-Events/News/2025/08/RHEP-2025. Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

Dr. Dan Edney, State Health Officer with the Mississippi Department of Health, explains what the state is doing to meet the public health needs of rural communities across the state; Shirley Orr, Executive Director for the Association of Public Health Nurses and lead speaker of ASTHO's new Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab series, discusses what may motivate nurses to choose the public health field; on Thursday, September 11th, ASTHO will hold the first session of the Activate series, the third installment of its Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate workshop, on building emotional intelligence skills; and ASTHO welcomes new member Dr. Lawrence Greenblatt, State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.  Mississippi State Department of Health: Rural Health and Population Studies ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab ASTHO Webinar: Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate: Series 3, Session 1: Building Emotional Intelligence Skills Lawrence Greenblatt Bio