The WNC Health Policy Initiative (HPI) Podcast

Listen in to hear about:
the continued NC Burn Ban due to statewide drought conditions
Congressman Edwards' Healthcare Accountability Act proposed to address HCA's management of Mission Hospital by providing greater regulatory tools for CMS
$26 million in FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant funding released to WNC, including Polk, Yancey, and Henderson counties, to acquire and demolish high-risk properties impacted by Hurricane Helene and convert them into green space
The first hospital reopened under the 2023 'Rural Emergency Hospital' designation in Martin County, NC has implications for WNC's hospitals
Recommendations made by the NC Advisory Council on Cannabis 
Wake County's cuts to special education in their latest budget is a reflection of how NC's counties are adjusting to population levels, social changes, and the ongoing pressures of no state budget 
HPI's Health Access Workgroup is developing a resource for navigating Medicaid changes

Recorded on 3-31-26
Description coming soon

In this installment, we highlight a recent audio piece that came out of an innovative health project in Buncombe County called the Mutual Aid Wellness Collective.
This collective is a group of providers who mobilized in response to Hurricane Helene to address health needs after the natural disaster and continue on the ground with the ongoing disaster of limited access to healthcare.
This audio piece was created by MAWC member Elliot Patterson, who recorded this ‘Mutual Aid Minute,’ as part of a public health communications exercise for a class in the UNC Gillings-UNCA-MAHEC Place-based Master of Public Health concentration before it closed.
We hope to feature more about the strengths and challenges of that WNC-based program in future episodes, especially as our region looks to increase our healthcare workforce in other ways, but until then, enjoy this segment.
Learn more through "The Mutual Aid Wellness Collective: A Case Study of Post-Disaster Mutual Aid Health Work in Western North Carolina."

With updates on Monday, March 23rd, we look at:  
A Mission Hospital Update:As Mission Hospital faces mounting scrutiny after safety violations, it seeks to meet a high-stakes deadline that could put its Medicare and Medicaid funding at risk. They have recently announced a corrective plan now in place supported by 'Bryant Healthcare Consultants.' 
Nonprofit Hospital Tax Proposal:North Carolina lawmakers are considering cutting tax breaks for nonprofit and public hospitals, a move that could impact systems like AdventHealth, UNC Health Pardee and the Asheville Veterans Medical Center—raising questions about costs, access, and strain on rural care.
Asheville Screening – “SHUFFLE”:A premiere of SHUFFLE, a documentary examining mental health, addiction treatment, patient brokering, and fraud in mental health services that could be relevant to health policy in NC. Conversation with director Benjamin Flaherty. The event is sponsored by Addiction Professionals of North Carolina.
Screening details + free tickets can be found here:
Thursday, March 26th at 5PMRegal Cinema Biltmore Grande - 292 Thetford Street, Asheville, NC
Public Comment Open on Federal Grant Rule Changes Affecting Health Funding until March 30th, 2026
A proposed federal rule from the General Services Administration could change how organizations register for federal funding, potentially affecting eligibility for health service providers. Updates to language requirements may determine whether nonprofits qualify for grants, creating uncertainty for providers serving specific populations. The policy could have significant implications for funding stability and access to care, especially in underserved regions. Comments can be written here
 
 

As natural disasters and food access challenges increase, communities are turning to hyper-local solutions to build resilience from the ground up.
This episode explores how food policy councils, urban agriculture, and community-based education are shaping local health policy in Western North Carolina. Speaking with Bountiful Cities' Outreach Coordinator, Cathy Cleary, we hear how strategies from school garden programs to edible public landscapes aim to improve access to fresh food while strengthening long-term community resilience.
🔗 Resources & further reading:
Learn more about Bountiful Cities
Information on starting a Food Policy Council in WNC through the WNC Food Coalition
Listen to our last episode on food access in WNC with Nicole Hinebaugh: 

This week’s update brings up:
A new federal housing bill
 NC's competitive bidding process to select new vendors for the North Carolina State Health Plan
An overview of the 2026 WNC Health Policy Initiative Legislative Summit, which brought together policymakers, healthcare leaders, researchers, and community organizations to focus on three priority areas: access to care, workforce development, and social drivers of health 
Listeners will hear how the summit was structured, including opening remarks from regional and state leaders, a keynote on rural health transformation, a policymaker panel discussing costs, Medicaid, and workforce challenges, and multiple breakout sessions covering topics like disaster response, mental health, and caregiver support. The summit was designed not as a one-time event, but as a starting point for ongoing collaboration across our region.
Speakers: Soni Pitts (WNC HPI), Chancellor Kimberly van Noort (UNCA), Susan Mims (Dogwood Health Trust), William Hathaway (MAHEC), Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, and Laurie Stradley (Impact Health)
Panel: Sen. Jim Burgin, Katherine Martin (UNC), Josh Dobson (NCHA), Rep. Timothy Reeder, and Melanie Bush (NCDHHS), with moderation by Sen. Ralph Hise
10 Breakout Presentations by: Appalachian State University, Western Carolina University & the NC Center for Health & Wellness of the Health Policy Research Consortium
Attending Legislators: Sen. Gale Adcock, Rep. Eric Ager, Sen. Julie Mayfield, and Rep. Lindsey Prather.
 
To explore more, including summit materials and one-page overviews of key priorities, visit the WNC Health Policy Initiative website.

WNC Health Policy Update: Primary Winners' Health Policy Positions, $1.4 Billion Critical Needs Budget Proposal, and Public Comment Opportunities
Listen for a quick look at:
Where WNC’s primary winners for the US House and Senate stand on health policy
Efforts to restore funding for the North Carolina Perinatal Quality Collaborative, a statewide program aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Gov Stein calls for the NC General Assembly to pass a $1.4 Billion Critical Needs Budget to cover gaps in areas like the state's Medicaid coverage
A new surgical care benefit for state employees
Public comment opportunities on:
proposed federal changes affecting nonprofit grant eligibility (March 30)
Proposed changes for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services marketplace rules (March 13) &
a proposed strengthening of NC's involuntary commitment processes for residents struggling with mental health (April 1)
Updates on the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program ROOTS Hub applications (due April 2) &
Recent news of the regional workforce development initiative Good Jobs Western North Carolina
*Special thanks to Research Associate, Jimmy Mullen.

New federal changes under H.R.1 could significantly impact Medicaid and rural health systems across North Carolina. This episode features a conversation with NC Health News reporter Jaymie Baxley about what those changes could mean—and how the state’s new Rural Health Transformation Program aims to support rural communities. The discussion explores the opportunities, limitations, and what’s at stake for healthcare access in Western North Carolina.
Here’s Jaymie’s article with NC Health News: https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2026/01/20/rural-transformation-planning/
The NC ROOTS Hub application: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/office-rural-health/rural-health-transformation-program/rural-health-transformation-program-grant-opportunities
WNC ROOTS Hub Map:
 

This week in North Carolina health policy:
Medicaid leadership change: NC Medicaid Director Jay Ludlum is stepping down. Melanie Bush, the state’s Assistant Secretary of Medicaid has been named interim deputy secretary.
ROOTS Hubs applications open: North Carolina has released applications for ROOTS Hubs — Rural Organizations Orchestrating Transformation for Sustainability — regional networks that will coordinate rural health investments under the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program. See the latest town hall.
Involuntary outpatient commitment under review: A legislative committee is considering updates to the court-ordered program requiring individuals with severe and persistent mental illness to follow intensive community-based treatment outside the hospital. Lawmakers have opened a public comment portal through April 1.
Measles update: North Carolina has reported 23 cases since December 2025. South Carolina has confirmed 985 cases (2/27). Vaccination access remains a priority.
Federal spending context: As new military operations escalate in Iran, the Center for a New American Security estimates it costs about $6.5 million per day to operate a carrier strike group — roughly $13 million daily for current operations — with the past month already costing about $200 million and expected to surpass half a billion dollars which stands as a contrast to the disinvestment from Medicaid. 
Election reminder: Early voting has ended and the primary is Tuesday. The SAVE Act — requiring a birth certificate or passport to register to vote — has passed the U.S. House but not the Senate. North Carolinians can still register and vote without that extra documentation. Find your sample ballot at: https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/sample-ballot

In this week’s episode:
🔹 A significant drop in ACA Marketplace enrollment in North Carolina — North Carolina saw one of the largest percentage decreases in the country for the 2026 open enrollment period. See the changes in the CMS national snapshot and deeper reporting on state impacts:
📄 Open Enrollment Report: 
🗞️ NC Local's reporting
🔹 Rural Health Transformation & ROOTS Hubs — We highlight the upcoming state webinar on NC's rollout of the $213 million received for Rural Health Transformation and the first initiative of NC ROOTS Hubs. Will it allow the successes of HOP to continue in WNC? Check it 
🎥 Watch the Jan. 16, 2026 Rural Health Transformation Program town hall
📌 Join the NC Rural Health Transformation webinar on NC ROOTS Hubs on Thursday Feb 26 @ 2:30
🔹 SCRIPT Act & Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform – State leadership wrote a letter to PBMs to inform them of the implementation and oversight of the SCRIPT Act. This could make smaller and independent pharmacies in rural areas more viable.
🔹 Measles vaccine availability remains a priority — While no new cases have been reported since last week, ongoing public health efforts continue to monitor and encourage vaccination access statewide.
🔹 Primary election resources — Health policy decisions happen at all levels. The primaries allow WNCians to choose from a pool of candidates that will write, carry out, and interpret health policy. Check your sample ballot and see what’s on your March 3 primary ballot here.
Whether you’re a community member, a healthcare worker, or a policymaker, this weekly update helps you stay informed about the policies shaping health outcomes in Western North Carolina—without needing to comb through endless news or legislative updates.