Community Health Centers. Unfiltered.

When Hurricane Helene devastated eastern Tennessee, River Valley Health became far more than a healthcare provider. It became a lifeline for the community. In this episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered, ACH CEO Amanda Pears Kelly sits down with River Valley Health CEO Parinda Khatri, Ph. D., to discuss how the health center responded when roads washed away, communications failed, and pati...

Medicaid is one of the nation's most important—and most misunderstood—health care programs. It covers nearly half of all births in the United States, finances more than half of nursing home care, and serves millions of children, older adults, people with disabilities, and working families. But with sweeping federal policy changes on the horizon, Medicaid is entering a period of significant change....

What happens when one of the nation's leading advocates for community health centers sits down with one of Washington's most prominent libertarian health policy experts? In this episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered, Amanda Pears Kelly welcomes Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the Cato Institute—a think tank known for its emphasis on limited government, free markets, a...

In this episode, Amanda Pears Kelly sits down with John Jenkins, CEO of LifeLong Medical Care, as the organization celebrates 50 years of serving communities across California. The conversation explores legacy, leadership, and the future of community health centers through a deeply personal lens, as John reflects on the impact of his father, Dr. William Jenkins, and what it means to now lead in th...

In this episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered, ACH CEO Amanda Pears Kelly sits down with national disability policy expert and former White House advisor Rachel Patterson to explore why disability policy is primary care policy. From inaccessible equipment and Medicaid policy barriers to long-term care and patient-led governance, the conversation unpacks how public policy shapes real-world...

In this episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered, host Amanda Pears Kelly takes listeners behind the budget—where critical decisions about federal funding, Medicaid, and state spending priorities determine how community health centers (CHCs) operate every day. Joined by health policy expert Jessica Schubel, the conversation puts a clear lens on how budget policy—not just legislation—drives r...

In this episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered, host Amanda Pears Kelly marks the 60th anniversary of the Community Health Center Program by exploring the history, purpose, and enduring impact of America’s most vital safety-net programs. Joined by Dr. Thomas Ward, author of Out in the Rural: A Mississippi Health Center and Its War on Poverty, the conversation looks beyond the idea of healt...

This episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered explores the future of value-based care and what it means for community health centers as federal policy continues to evolve. The conversation focuses on new initiatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including the ACCESS and LEAD models, which aim to shift the health system away from volume-based care toward outcome...

In this episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered, Advocates for Community Health goes beyond the headlines to explore how federal health policy is actually made — and what that process means for the stability and sustainability of community health centers (CHCs). Co-Host Margaret French of Venn Strategies is joined by Debbie Curtis and Rodney Whitlock of McDermott+, both former senior Capito...

In this episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered, hosted by ACH CEO Amanda Pears Kelly, we sit down with A.C. Locklear, CEO of the National Indian Health Board, to discuss the urgent challenges facing American Indian and Alaska Native Nations and communities. A.C. highlights the chronic underfunding of the Tribal health system, barriers to access to care, and the critical workforce shortages...

Many veterans receive care outside the VA, and community health centers play a critical role in filling those gaps—especially in rural and underserved communities. This episode explores how CHCs are expanding access for veterans who face barriers to traditional VA services and why they are essential partners in the broader veteran care ecosystem.   The conversation between ACH CEO Amanda Pears Kel...

In the first episode of Season 2, host Amanda Pears Kelly sits down with Daphne Kackloudis, a health care attorney and partner at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, to explore how recent changes to the 340B program are impacting community health centers and Ryan White clinics in real time. Drawing on frontline legal experience, this episode breaks down what’s driving new federal rules and manufac...

As 2025 comes to a close, Community Health Centers Unfiltered wraps its inaugural season with a look back—and a look forward. In this special finale episode, host Amanda Pears Kelly and guests Stephanie Krenrich and Elizabeth Lee, break down the biggest policy challenges CHCs faced in 2025, the surprises that shaped advocacy this year, and the lessons that will influence the road ahead. The team a...

What if healthcare rewarded better outcomes—not more procedures? Value-based care is reshaping how health centers provide care nationwide. But what does this shift really mean for patients and providers—and why should even privately insured individuals care? In this episode, we talk with Dr. DaShawn Groves, Commissioner of the Department of Vermont Health Access, who has been driving value-based c...

On this episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered, CEO Amanda Pears Kelly talks with Jen Taylor, Senior Director of Government Relations at Families USA, a national champion for health care consumers. They dive into how federal policies can either open doors—or create roadblocks—for patients at community health centers. From defining what “access to care” really means, to tackling bureaucrati...

In this episode, we zoom out to examine the future of community health centers within America’s rapidly evolving health care landscape. As debates over Medicaid, coverage reform, and market-based solutions intensify, what role will CHCs play—and how can they continue to thrive while staying true to their mission of serving communities in need? Amanda Pears Kelly is joined by Ed Haislmaier of The H...

In this episode, leaders from El Rio Health, Arizona’s largest community health center, discuss the future of physician training through Teaching Health Center programs with host Amanda Pears Kelly. These community-based residency programs train doctors to serve diverse, underserved populations—but federal funding uncertainty now puts them at risk. Our guests share how these programs impact patien...

In this episode, Gabrielle Kalisz Minarik from the Paragon Health Institute joins Amanda Pears Kelly to discuss the future of healthcare, the MAHA framework, and the critical role Community Health Centers play in shaping it. We explore how MAHA could reshape care delivery and financing, why primary and preventive care are essential for underserved communities, and ways CHCs can partner with policy...

When Washington talks about cutting Medicaid, the impact doesn’t just stay in D.C.—it shows up on the frontlines in counties and communities across America. In this episode, Amanda Pears Kelly sits down with Blaire Bryant from the National Association of Counties (NACo) to look at what Medicaid funding really means locally. From the strain on county budgets and safety nets to the challenges facing...

Food is medicine. But what if you can't get it? In this episode, we explore how access to nutritious food shapes health in underserved communities, and what happens when that access is out of reach. Dr. Laura Samuel from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing joins us for a conversation on why food isn’t just fuel—it’s healthcare.

When you can’t afford both rent and medicine, which do you choose? On Community Health Centers. Unfiltered., Dr. Barbara DiPietro, Senior Director of Policy from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, joins us to talk about the consequences when homelessness, soaring housing costs, and healthcare challenges converge—and what’s at risk as safety net programs face deep cuts.

How are health centers meeting the unique needs of rural communities? What challenges do they face—from workforce shortages to limited infrastructure—and what policy solutions are on the table? Host Amanda Pears Kelly talks to Health Care Strategist and Founder of the Rural Impact Michelle Rathman to connect the dots between place, access, and impact.

Host Amanda Pears Kelly talks with Elizabeth Lee, Managing Director of Continuum Health Group, about how the 340B program helps community health centers deliver affordable care—and why it’s at risk. A must-listen for anyone invested in health care access for all and America’s health care safety net.

What happens to community health centers when Medicaid funding is cut? In our very first episode of Community Health Centers. Unfiltered., Advocates for Community Health CEO Amanda Pears Kelly dives deep with policy experts, Stephanie Krenrich (ACH) and Margaret French (Venn Strategies), to unpack the real impact of Medicaid cuts—and what’s at stake for patients and communities across the country.

What happens to community health centers when Medicaid funding is cut? In our very first episode of Community Health Centers. Unfiltered., Advocates for Health CEO Amanda Pears Kelly dives deep with policy experts, Stephanie Krenrich (Advocates for Community Health) and Margaret French (Venn Strategies) to unpack the real impact of Medicaid cuts—and what’s at stake for patients and communities acr...