The WNC Health Policy Initiative (HPI) Podcast

Recorded on June 1, 2026
 
More coming soon

Flash flooding & Fuel Prices as Social Determinants of Health
DHS to use NC Medicaid Data
House Bill 565 "Check Yes, Save Lives" Becomes
"Limit use of AI Medicaid/Commercial Insurance through Proposed" through proposed committee substitute. 
Senate bill 961, "Hospital Authority Commissioner Reforms"
 Senate Bill 978 "Healthcare Competition Reforms"
Senate Bill 863 “Streamline Adult Care Home Inspections,
NC AG joins lawsuit against BOE
Presidential Fitness Test: MSU & Fordham Institute Reflections
Public Narrative, Weight-loss Drugs & Policy 
Ebola and Place-based Narratives 

Listen in for updates from May 19th, including:
Governor Stein Proclaims North Carolina Heat Safety Week
The Office of State Budget and Management reported $2.6 billion more available in NC's upcoming budget
Stein makes recommendations to the state budget to combat opioids
Stein signs E.O. 36 concerning housing affordability 
HB 1154: Expand the FarmSHARE Food Hub Program is sent back to the Committee On Appropriations
A recent AVL Watchdog review of CON law applications granted in March, of 129 additional hospital beds allocated, 34 were granted to Asheville Medical Center (Novant Health) with the rest for Mission (HCA). 
Mission Hospital announced it is investing more than $10 million for employee pay increases in WNC.
CMS announces a Six-Month Hospice and Home Health Agency Enrollment Moratoria
Ebola and Hantavirus updates
NCCHW presents on Lessons Learned from Hurricane Helene (check out Episodes 14, 17, and 19 of the podcast to hear more!) 
 

Federal Updates:
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary Resigns, highlighting ongoing instability in national health leadership
Upcoming July 24 deadline for compliance with EO 14398 means WNC organizations with existing federal grants could face termination or fines if they fail to comply with new standards regarding language surrounding equity. 
US Supreme Court nullifies part of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, removing some protections against gerrymandering and impacting how voters may engage with electing positions that impact health policy.
US Supreme Court delayed a decision on mifepristone due on May 12 by at least 3 days
State Updates (with expectation of more news on 5/15/26)
Initial framework created between NC House and Senate for the state’s budget where they agreed on ongoing lowering of taxes for individuals and corporations and some salary increases for state workers and while they finalize details. 
The NC High School Sports Association put its support behind Senate Bill 550 (from the 2025-2026 Session), titled the "Coaches Care Act.” First introduced in March 2025, this would require middle and high school coaches and athletic directors to complete annual mental health first aid training. The bill aims to help staff recognize, support, and connect student-athletes with mental health resources.
 House Bill 1066, the "Child Care Stabilization & Affordability Act,” proposed by a team including 3 WNC congress members from Buncombe County would redirect state funding currently used for private school voucher programs toward investments in child care assistance and teacher pay.
House Bill 1057, “The Affordable Food Act,” was proposed legislation aimed to increase state operation of nutrition services and restricting “dynamic pricing” in grocery and food retail settings with the goal to mitigate rising food costs. 
While Duke seeks to increase rates for customers across NC, a recent report by the Carolina Public Press shows 60% of NC legislators receive campaign contributions from Duke Energy
Regional Update:
Asheville City Council accepts a federal grant to establish a Real Time Intelligence Center, including surveillance technology by Axon Fusus, despite local concerns of residents and visitors’ movement data being sold as derivative data to bad actors. This raises concerns on the growing pattern of surveillance on mental health, ongoing loss of trust in elected officials, and public safety concerns with monetized data and AI. 

Listen in for health policy updates in WNC from May 5, 2026! 

WNC is home to many innovative strategies for navigating complex health challenges.
Two of those include the role of Community Health Workers in the healthcare workforce and the Healthy Opportunities Pilot, which abruptly ended in the summer of 2025 due to the General Assembly's failure to pass a budget. 
In this episode we hear from Jacque Ballard, a community health worker who has worked in both Madison and Yancey Counties and recently supported research by the Health Policy Research Consortium to understand the impact of HOP's end.
We talk about the work of community health workers, challenges experienced in WNC, and the impact of HOP's end.
Madison County Resource Guide
Become a Community Health Worker
AB Tech
Haywood Community College (HEA 3121)
Mountain Area Health Education Center 
 Robeson County Community College (online) 
Learn more in our past conversation with the president of the NC Community Health Worker Association, Honey Yang Estrada. 

Recorded April 27, this episode covers:
Key takeaways from the recent federal hearing with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including discussions on vaccines, Medicaid funding, and public trust
The passage of North Carolina House Bill 696, allocating $319 million to sustain Medicaid coverage through the end of the year
Ongoing debates around new Medicaid requirements adopted in HB 696, including work eligibility rules, immigration-related provisions, and administrative changes
Republican Anna Ferguson has been appointed to represent District 119 following the death of Mike Clampitt, who passed away in March after battling Myelodysplastic syndrome.
A pause by the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform on proposed property tax changes for nonprofit hospitals although they move forward with closing a loophole for for-profit developers and proposed a move that moves property tax control from counties to the state
Energy policy updates, including:
a halt on new solar projects by Duke 
Beyond the towns of Canton, Clyde, the city of Brevard, and Clay County, Western North Carolina adds one more moratorium on data center development in Bryson City
One more public hearing in WNC on Duke's proposed energy increase by the NC Utilities Commission on April 28 in Morganton 
HOP Documentary "The Root of Good Health" has a virtual screening on April 28th and a live showing on May 1st in Hendersonville
For more in-depth coverage and interviews with regional health leaders, visit wnchealthpolicy.org.

In this episode we speak with Paula Swepson Avery and Ginger Webb from West Marion Inc. about their decade-long journey of community transformation in McDowell County.
They tell us how meaningful progress requires long-term commitment, not constantly shifting strategies, and how their work centers on addressing the social determinants of health, like housing, transportation, food access, childcare, and stigma in their WNC community.
Listeners will learn:
How community-led organizing led to real policy changes, including a local transit system and minimum housing standards
Why reducing stigma around food insecurity, transportation, and substance use is essential to improving health outcomes
How community forums, and their work as seen in the “Shift Happens” book, empower residents to shape their own futures
What current funding structures get wrong, and how investing directly in community organizations can drive deeper impact
Lessons from disaster preparedness and response before and after Hurricane Helene, including the vision for a community resilience hub
Whether you're a policymaker, funder, public health professional, or community advocate, this conversation challenges conventional approaches and highlights a path toward better health outcomes in our rural communities. 

Updates from 4-20-26
Disaster Policy in WNC
Current drought conditions in NC have led to a statewide burn ban and a variety of water regulation policies in the state, but in WNC, Henderson County has opted to create a new water source from the French Broad River and do not anticipate needing water mitigation measures at this time 
The anticipated El Niño, especially after drought conditions, increases the risk of flooding in the upcoming winter
DHS Secretary Mullin visits Lake Lure about ongoing Helene recovery where local reps describe ongoing struggles and policy impact
NC-native, Anthony Corrales, defended a recent thesis on disaster communications during Hurricane Helene in WNC. This could be useful for Emergency Services planning for the next disaster. Reach him at alc12@illinois.edu for more information
2026 NC General Assembly Begins Short Session
Short Session Began April 21st, with budget resolution a continuing need before the General Assembly can meaningfully move forward. 
Navigating tax policy is central to this internal debate between the state house and senate
New Research on Phone Bans in NC
A new study by UNC suggests that 'internet safety policy" passed by the General Assembly to restrict phone use by students during classes, because of academic engagement, youth mental health, and social wellbeing, has largely not been effective with its current limitations. More data is being collected and may lead to more regulations for phone usage in schools like 'bell to bell' legislation.
Behavioral Health Infrastructure 
Robeson County opened a 24/7 crisis center for mental health and substance use issues, which may reduce hospital strain and on law enforcement,  
Flock Safety Expansion Temporarily Tabled in Asheville
Rep Chuck Edwards secured $1.14 million for the use of Flock cameras by Asheville's Police Department
Asheville City Council was expected to accept the funds on 4/14 but strong public pushback tabled the issue for a future session.
Pushback included concerns of:
Privacy Violations & Mass Surveillance
Misuse and Unchecked Sharing (ie: harassment and stalking)
Security Risks (demonstrated hacking means openly available data)
Other public health concerns include impacts on mental health and reduced participation in community events or health-supporting behaviors 
Public Hearing on Duke Energy's Proposal to Increase Rates Held in Waynesville 
Duke seeks to increase rates for consumers by 15-18% over the next 2 years
Previous public hearings have largely featured pushback from residents, stating current unaffordability, the failure of Duke to followthrough with past promises, the immense profits of Duke's stakeholders, the resulting suppression of energy cooperatives, and the responsibility of data centers to cover their cost 
The Waynesville hearing had similar takeaways, although President and CEO of the Haywood Chamber of Commerce, David Francis, and Land of Sky Regional Councilmember, Nathan Ramsey, expressed support of Duke
Another public hearing in WNC will take place in Morganton (Burke County) on 4/28 at 7pm
Health Opportunities Pilot
Community Health Worker Jacque Ballard offered a tour in Madison County on 4/15 about the impact of the pilot's abrupt end
Premiere of documentary created by Beacon Media NC on 4/22
Other screenings on 4/28 (virtually) and 5/1 in Hendersonville 

Check out these health policy updates from 4-14-26
The University of North Carolina System Workforce Alignment Report notes gaps between degrees completed in NC and the demand for jobs (such as nursing). . . 
 
Leadership UpdateMaggie Woods was named Director of the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program on 4-6-26
Upcoming Film: The Root of Good Health
A documentary highlighting North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot
Raleigh Premiere + PanelWednesday, April 22, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 PM ET
Virtual Screening + PanelTuesday, April 28, 2026 | 6:00 PM ET
Western NC Screening + CelebrationFriday, May 1, 2026 | 5:30–7:00 PM ET📍 Dry Falls Brewing Company in Hendersonville
More info through Beacon Media NCWatch the trailer
 Duke's Energy Rate Hike Proposal & Public Input Opportunity
Duke Energy is seeking approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission to increase consumer energy costs by 18% over the next two years
Public Witness Hearings allow room for public input before the Commission makes a decision later in the year. WNC hearings include:
-April 14, 2026 | 7:00 PM @ the Haywood County Courthouse
- April 28, 2026 | 7:00 PM @ the Burke County Courthouse
 Watch public comment from the virtual session on April 1:
Public Health Resources
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launches the NC Injury Data User Toolkit
Gain more context with the 2024–2027 Community Violence Prevention Strategic Plan
Statewide Update
Continued Burn Ban across North Carolina