Community Health Centers. Unfiltered. Podcast
Community Health Centers. Unfiltered. is the official podcast of Advocates for Community Health, where we dive deep into the policy, politics, and people shaping the future of America’s health care safety net.
Hosted by ACH CEO Amanda Pears Kelly, each episode strips away the jargon to deliver honest conversations with policymakers on both sides of the aisle, community leaders, and health center champions on the frontlines. From Capitol Hill to local neighborhoods, we explore how community health centers are driving change, expanding access, and standing up for a healthier America.
Season one spotlighted top policy thinkers and frontline health leaders from The Heritage Foundation, Paragon Health Institute, the National Association of Counties, Families USA, Johns Hopkins University, El Rio Health, The Rural Impact, and more.
If you care about the health of communities—and the policies and people that make it possible—this podcast is for you.
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No spin. No fluff. Just unfiltered stories from the frontlines of care. Watch or listen to an episode on YouTube, Podbean, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, or IHeartRadio.
Season 2,
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.
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.
On this episode, Amanda Pears Kelly talks with Jen Taylor 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 CHCs. 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.
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.
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.
In this episode, Gabrielle Kalisz Minarik from the Paragon Health Institute discusses 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.
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 examine what Medicaid funding truly 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. 
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.
When you can’t afford both rent and medicine, which do you choose? On Community Health Centers. Unfiltered., Dr. Barbara DiPietro, Senior Director of Policy from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council joins us to talk about the consequences when homelessness, soaring housing costs, and healthcare challenges converge—and what’s at risk as safety net programs face deep cuts. 
