What happens when one of the nation’s leading advocates for community health centers sits down with one of Washington’s most prominent libertarian health policy experts? In this episode of Community Health Centers Unfiltered, Amanda Pears Kelly welcomes Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the Cato Institute—a think tank known for its emphasis on […]
Advocates for Community Health committed to ensuring patient access to care Washington, D.C. (June 1, 2026) – Advocates for Community Health (ACH) CEO Amanda Pears Kelly issued the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ interim final rule issued June 1, 2026, implementing Medicaid work requirements: “Community health centers serve […]
In this episode, Amanda Pears Kelly sits down with John Jenkins, CEO of LifeLong Medical Care, as the organization celebrates 50 years of serving communities across California. The conversation explores legacy, leadership, and the future of community health centers through a deeply personal lens, as John reflects on the impact of his father, Dr. William […]
What if healthcare systems were unintentionally designed to exclude the very people who need them most? 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 […]
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 […]
A closer look at how community health centers serve patients, communities, and the healthcare system Go Inside America’s Health Centers, a new communications video campaign from Advocates for Community Health, featuring four of its members—CEOs of some of the largest and most innovative health centers in the country. For five years, ACH has been at […]
Rural health care in America is at a turning point, and the decisions being made right now will shape access to care for millions of people. Community health centers (CHCs) have long been the backbone of care in rural communities, serving patients who often face higher rates of chronic illness, limited transportation, and fewer provider […]
ACH was sourced for this story featuring ACH Board Member Tory Starr: “Tory Starr is worried about the people who get medical care at Open Door Community Health Centers along California’s North Coast,” reports Sarah Jane Tribble for KFF News. “They’re the folks that work at restaurants. They’re the teacher’s aides,” said Starr, a registered […]
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 program. Joined by Dr. Thomas Ward, professor, historian and author of Out in the Rural: A Mississippi Health Center and […]
The drug industry this week celebrated its first federal appeals court victory against a state 340B contract pharmacy access law—a ruling which could face additional challenges, including before the U.S. Supreme Court, reports Shannon Young at 340B Report. The court ruling blocking West Virginia’s 340B contract pharmacy law sparked strong concern from providers and advocacy […]
