Community Health Centers. Unfiltered.

S2 E8: Why Disability Policy is Primary Care Policy

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 healthcare access — and why community health centers are central to building a more inclusive system.

S2 E7: Behind the Budget: How Policy Shapes Community Health Centers Today

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 real-world outcomes for providers and patients.
Drawing on her experience at the White House, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and CMS, Schubel breaks down the most consequential budget shifts affecting CHCs right now—from federal appropriations battles to Medicaid financing changes and state-level budget decisions.
The episode also dives into how state budgets can either reinforce or undermine federal investments, the policy risks emerging in upcoming budget cycles, and the growing financial pressures tied to caring for an aging population. Schubel highlights the importance of data-driven advocacy, offering insight into how CHCs can use outcomes and evidence to strengthen their position in budget negotiations and policy debates.
At its core, this episode underscores a simple truth: budgets are policy in action. And for community health centers, what happens behind the budget directly determines what’s possible at the front lines of care.

S2 E6: 60 Years of the Health Center Movement: What the Past Teaches Us About the Future

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 health centers as simply clinics and revisits their roots in the Civil Rights Movement and the War on Poverty. Together, they discuss how early health centers were built around community empowerment, local governance, and addressing the social and economic conditions that shape health.
The episode also examines why the health center model has endured through six decades of political and economic change, maintaining bipartisan support while continuing to serve underserved communities nationwide. Dr. Ward shares lessons from history that remain deeply relevant today as policymakers debate the future of funding, workforce shortages, and access to care.
This episode is a timely reminder that community health centers are more than health care providers—they are trusted community institutions woven into the social fabric of America.
 
 
 

S2 E5: What’s Next for Value-Based Care: New CMS Models & Technology-Enabled Care

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 outcomes-driven, coordinated, and technology-enabled care.
Featuring Emily Brower, CEO of the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations (NAACOS), the episode breaks down how these new models are designed to expand accountable care and improve prevention and chronic disease management while also examining whether they truly reflect the realities of the safety net. The discussion highlights key challenges facing community health centers, including limited infrastructure, complex patient populations, attribution issues, and disparities in access to technology.
Ultimately, the episode underscores that while value-based care is accelerating, its success will depend on whether policymakers meaningfully include and support community health centers. Without intentional design and investment, these models risk leaving behind the very providers who serve the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
Show Notes
ACCESS: https://www.naacos.com/access-the-power-will-be-in-partnerships/
LEAD: LEAD (Long-term Enhanced ACO Design) Model | CMS
In the News: Will The New CMS ACO Model LEAD To Better Care For High-Need Medicare Beneficiaries? | Health Affairs
AHEAD: AHEAD (Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design) Model | CMS and Geo AHEAD Factsheet
NAACOS: Learn more about the NAACOS Spring Conference in April 2026 agenda and register to join.

S2 E4: Inside the Deal Room: What Federal Policy Really Means for CHCs

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 Capitol Hill staff with decades of experience shaping Medicare, Medicaid, and ACA policy.
The conversation unpacks how power moves in Washington and why CHCs must understand not just what policy says, but how it gets negotiated.

S2 E3: Health, Heritage, and Advocacy: Building Stronger Tribal and Community Health Care

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 affecting both Tribal and community health centers. We explore how these challenges influence policy, leadership, and the day-to-day work of providing care, and how partnerships between Tribal health organizations and community health centers can help address these gaps.
This episode offers an unfiltered look at the real-world hurdles Tribal health leaders face, and the innovative approaches they’re taking to keep communities healthy and resilient.

S2 E2: Strengthening Access — How CHCs Are Transforming Health Care for Veterans

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 Kelly and ECRI’s Shannon Kooker, MSN, RN highlights how evidence-based research from ECRI supports safer, more standardized outpatient care for veterans, while partnerships, interoperable data, and trauma-informed approaches help rebuild trust and improve outcomes for those transitioning to civilian life.

S2 E1: 340B Unfiltered: How New Federal Rules Hit the Front Lines

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 manufacturer restrictions—and what they mean for clinic operations, patient services, and access to care. Tune in for a candid look at what’s at stake for the safety net and where 340B policy may be headed next.

S1 E12: Shaping 2026: What’s Next for Community Health Centers

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 also previews the major federal issues and policy priorities to watch in 2026, offering insight into where ACH sees opportunities for impact—and what policymakers need to understand about the realities facing community health centers next year.
Whether you’ve been with us all season or you’re tuning in for the first time, this episode sets the stage for the work, momentum, and advocacy ahead.

S1 E11: Paying for Better Health: The Promise of Value-Based Care

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 care in action. We explore the challenges, opportunities, and real-world impact of this model on people’s lives. Join us for a clear look at the future of care delivery—and what’s at stake.