Community Health Centers. Unfiltered.

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.

S1 E10: Overcoming Bureaucratic Barriers for Community Health Center Patients

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 bureaucratic hurdles, and sharing strategies to elevate patient voices in policymaking, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone invested in accessible, patient-centered care.
Tune in to hear practical advice, emerging trends, and a hopeful vision for a more accessible health care system.

S1 E9: Conservative Perspectives on the Future of Community Health Centers

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 Heritage Foundation for a thought-provoking conversation about how conservative health policy ideas could reshape the safety net and where opportunities for common ground might emerge.

S1 E8: Teaching Health Centers Under Pressure: El Rio Health’s Story

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 patients, strengthen communities, and why advocacy is critical to ensure the next generation of physicians is trained where they’re needed most.

S1 E7: The Future of Health Care, MAHA, and the Role of CHCs

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 policymakers to shape the system. This episode is full of insights for anyone interested in where our healthcare system is headed.

S1 E6: The Local Price of Medicaid Cuts: Counties on the Frontlines

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 community health centers and hospitals, Blaire explains how these decisions affect local leaders’ ability to deliver essential services while keeping costs under control for taxpayers.

S1 E5: From Food Deserts to Food Security: Changing the Narrative

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.