HeyJaredThe WNC Health Policy Initiative (HPI) Podcast
In each installment, we’ll speak about different public health strategies for improving health and well-being in Western North Carolina (WNC). HPI podcast NCCHW MAHEC dogwoodhealthtrust
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 5
- Latest publication
- Aug 13, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 4, 2026
Latest episodes
Episode 28: Housing, Care Coordination, and Behavioral Health in Western North Carolina (opens the original)
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Marie Collins shares her experience navigating behavioral health systems across several counties in Western North Carolina over the past 10 years, highlighting several major policy opportunities, including: treating housing as part of mental health care and making it easier for providers to participate in Medicaid networks. We also hear more about peer support specialists, the public mental health ecosystem, Housing First, yoga, and more. Marie is speaking from her professional and personal expe
WNC Health Policy Brief: WNC Provider Map, Ongoing Budget Breakdown, WCMS Investment & more (7-14-26) (opens the original)
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Provider Mapping Tool for WNC In our most recent Friday Forum, we heard about MAHEC's FindMyCareWNC tool- an interactive map that shows primary care, behavioral health, dental services, substance use treatment, reproductive health, WIC, etc across WNC . It can serve as a referral tool for providers and helps community leaders identify service gaps. Maternal Health: NC's Budget has a directed grant of $800,000 in non-recurring funds to MAHEC for Project CARA which expands access to evidence-based
WNC Health Policy Brief: NC's Budget, Healthcare Affordability, and SNAP (7-6-26) (opens the original)
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This week, on the WNC Health Policy Initiative Podcast, we discuss: some of the biggest health implications after North Carolina's long-awaited state budget finally became law after more than a year without a full budget Governor Josh Stein's Executive Order No. 39 creating the bipartisan Health Care Affordability Commission to address rising medical costs & a recent federal court ruling on state efforts to restrict SNAP purchases of certain foods.
Episode 27: Sustaining our Mental Healthcare Workforce (opens the original)
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In this episode, we begin to explore the mental health and substance use landscape of Western North Carolina through the experience of clinician Lissa Carter, who has worked across recovery, community mental health, education, and clinical leadership roles in Buncombe County. We learn about her experiences with our workforce shortages and insurance barriers, and care fragmentation, alongside regional strengths like harm reduction initiatives and training pipelines. It sets up a broader discussio
WNC Health Policy Brief: Gallup on Healthcare Cost, AI Pilot in Medicare, Gov Veto Override, RHT & Settlement (6-29-26) (opens the original)
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According to the 2026 West Health-Gallup Affordability Index, Americans’ ability to afford healthcare has fallen to its lowest level since tracking began in 2021. Fewer than half of U.S. adults (49%) are considered “Cost Secure,” meaning they cannot consistently afford needed healthcare services and prescription medications. Although CMS Medicare Pilot, WISeR, whose stated intention was to reduce fraud and unnecessary care, critics say it is causing treatment delays, added administrative burden,
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