Prognosis Ohio

On episode 144, Dan talks with Hailey Akah and Brian O’Rourke of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio about the major findings in their 2026 Health Value Dashboard, a collection of tools and resources that compare Ohio’s performance to all other states on measures of population health, healthcare spending and the factors that influence health. Topics include the three key findings of the 2026 Dashb...

In this episode, Dan Skinner talks with State Rep. Justin Pizzulli, Republican from Scioto County, and Rep. Anita Somani, Democrat from Dublin, about the bill they are sponsoring to cap taxpayer funded vouchers for private schools at $500,000. As the discussion reveals, the issue is about fairness, fiscal responsibility, but also opens larger questions such as: should public money be transferred t...

Dan talks with Dr. Zach Rossfeld, who is running for State Representative in the 7th House district. A hospice and palliative care physician, Zach talks about what his experience as both a physician and at the Ohio Department of Medicaid has taught him about what Ohio needs on the policy level, not only health policy, but housing, education, and beyond. Above all, Rossfeld calls for a radical rece...

Dan talks with Rob Moore of Scioto Analysis about the recent surge in "affordability" talk. Is it economically meaningful, politically opportunistic, or a real sign that Americans and Ohioans are starting to ask deeper questions about inequality, poverty, and beyond?

Dan Skinner interviews Dr. Bryan Hambley, a Cincinnati-based oncologist who is running in the Democratic primary for Ohio Secretary of State. Dan and Bryan discuss the relationship between fair elections and better representation in Ohio, including how a more democratic system will help Ohio improve its poor health outcomes.

On episode 139, Dan Skinner talks with Emily Campbell, who recently began her service as President and CEO of the Center for Community Solutions after 16 years with the organization. Dan and Emily talk through the extensive (88--one for each Ohio county) fact sheets CCS recently released with data about the status of women in Ohio. Topics include economic barriers such as pay inequity, maternity d...

Smoking is not only one of the top causes of death in Cleveland, but is a function of years of inequitable and racist policy, with devastating consequences for communities of color. Dan talks with Dr. David Margolius, Director of Public Health for the City of Cleveland, about his and others' efforts to get Cleveland’s horrendous smoking rates under control, especially by addressing flavored tobacc...

Rick Neal is a well-known progressive advocate in Central Ohio, but his political conscience has long been driven by his passion for and professional experience in humanitarian relief, especially in Asia and Africa. On Episode 137, taking a few weeks off from challenges here in Ohio, Dan Skinner talks with Rick about his experience as a humanitarian relief worker with Peace Corps, Oxfam, and Refug...

Dan Skinner talks with Dr. Ayaz Hyder of Ohio State University’s College of Public Health and Gavin French of Columbus Public Health about their article, published in the Ohio Journal of Public Health, "Real-time Monitoring and Evaluation of the Vax Cash Program: A Case Study from Columbus, Ohio." Dan, Ayaz, and Gavin discuss the idea behind incentive programs such as Vax Cash, which provided cash...

Just two weeks from November 7, the last date Ohioans can vote on Issue 1, a ballot initiative that will enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio constitution, Dan Skinner talks with Marcela Azevedo, MD, Co-Founder of Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights (OPRR) about the state of the “Yes on Issue 1” movement. Topics include whether OPRR and issue 1 supporters have been able to cut through the nois...

Despite the immense loss and often nasty politics that set in a few months into Ohio’s pandemic response, former Director of the Ohio Department of Health, Dr. Amy Acton insists that there was far more love than hate in those early months. Despite the challenges we face, she wants Ohioans to reflect on how much they accomplished together and think about what the means for the state moving forward....

On episode 133, Dan Skinner talks with Washington Post reporters Lauren Weber and Dan Diamond about their reporting on life expectancy in Ohio. How Red-State Politics Are Shaving Years Off American Lives is a sobering, thoughtful, and carefully reported article that all Ohioans should read. In the conversation, Lauren and Dan discuss reactions to the piece so far; the relationship between public h...

On episode 132, Dan talks with John Corlett of the Center for Community Solutions about the need for a human service chamber in Northeast Ohio, the state of poverty in Ohio, the vulnerabilities of Ohio’s aging population, and the political consensus that has emerged around Medicaid. John also reflects on his distinguished career serving Ohio in a range of ways.  See www.prognosisohio.com/episodes/...

On the first episode of the Fall 2023 season, things get wonky with the good people at Yuvo Health and My Community Health Center about how creative approaches to value-based care can improve care delivery at Ohio’s community health centers. Specifically, Yuvo is doing some really exciting work with My Community Health Center in Canton. Dan talks with Dr. Lora Council, Chief Medical Officer at Yuv...

On episode 130, Dan talks with Danielle Bessett of the Ohio Policy Evaluation Network and Morgan Mitchell of the Abortion Fund of Ohio about the state of changing abortion access in Ohio, and especially medication abortion. The conversation includes pending legal cases that stand to increase health disparities throughout Ohio, two consequential elections--in August and November--designed by their...

On episode 129, Dan talks with Dr. Ean Bett, a family medicine physician in Columbus, about Medicare for All, single-payer healthcare, and national healthcare insurance.  Dan mentions a Youtube video of Dr. Bett in conversation with Greg Moody, “Is Medicare for All the Answer.” USA Healthcare, an organization Dr. Bett is a founding member of, has a different approach from Medicare for All by educa...

On episode 128, Dan talks with Randy Leite and Patrick Caniglia from the Appalachian Children Coalition about the behavioral health workforce and mental health needs of children in Appalachian Ohio. Show notes and streams at prognosisohio.com/episodes/acc. Hosted and produced by Dan Skinner. Editorial and production support by Angela Lin and Mike Foley. TIMESTAMPS 2:30: Stereotypes and misconcepti...

On episode 127, Dan talks with Sherri Kovach and Jodi Keller with COTS Ohio about mass casualty preparedness in Ohio. Timestamps: 1:26 Assessment of Ohio’s state of preparation and scenario planning  7:30 Learning from the response to the East Palestine train derailment 15:08 The challenges of operating in the background  19:36 Fostering collaborating in cultures of competition 21:30 - COTS and na...

On episode 126, Dan talks with OSU professor and clinician Dr. Rosie Bauder about suicide and suicide prevention, as well as the findings of her latest paper, published with OSU’s Dr. Austin Starkey, Examining Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Ohio Youth with Oppressed Identities Using the 2019 Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey, published in the Ohio Journal of Public Health. Timestamps: 3:22: R...

On episode 125, Dan talks with obstetrician-gynecologist and State Rep. Anita Somani about abortion and reproductive rights, the impact anti-transgender legislation is poised to have on Ohio patients; and balancing life as a physician-legislator. SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS 2:00: On being a physician and legislator  5:30: The state budget and the stakes for social and economic policy 8:45: Abortion and rep...

On episode 124, Dan talks with Columbus Dispatch reporters Max Filby and Jennifer Smola Shaffer about their investigative series, Preying on Patients. They discuss their findings, possible reforms for the medical board, and the role journalism plays in bringing these stories about sexual misconduct to light.

Dan talks with State Representative and House Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius Jarrells about his background, bills he has introduced and supported, and his health priorities in the Ohio Statehouse as Assistant Minority Leader.  After surviving lead poisoning as a kid, Rep. Jarrells introduced H.B. 587, laying the groundwork for securing a historic $150 million in ARPA funding for lead poison p...

On this bonus episode of Prognosis Ohio, Dan talks with Emily Wright of River Valley Organizing and Melanie Houston of the Ohio Environmental Council about the situation in East Palestine in the wake of the Norfolk Southern train derailment. Topics include what residents are reporting; predatory entities; water, ground and air testing; and what policy changes we'll need to pursue to ensure this ne...

Dan Skinner talks with Tara Britton of the Center for Community Solutions and Kelsey Bergfeld of Advocates for Ohio's Future about the state budget and their organizations’ policy priorities. Topics include SNAP benefits, Medicaid, harm reduction, doula services, and the workplace. Show notes at prognosisohio.com and wcbe.org. Support Prognosis Ohio here. 2:30 - The State Budget and the Public Hea...

Dan talks with genetic counselor Paul Hudson, current President of the Ohio Association of Genetic Counselors, about a range of issues in the field. Among other things, they dive into the effects of the Dobbs decision, diversity efforts in the genetic counseling, and preventing discrimination from the use of genetic information. Interview starts at 2:20. Show notes, links, and streams at prognosis...