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.

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