994: Healthy Aging Tactics, PH Funding on the Hill

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, September 19, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

JW RANDOLPH: 

So, in Tennessee, healthy aging is an action word and not an afterthought.

JOHNSON: 

When it comes to healthy aging, our thoughts may go to older adults, but in Tennessee, they're looking at the bigger picture.

RANDOLPH: 

We know that a healthier five-year-old is more likely to be a healthier adolescent, and young adult, and middle-aged person, an older adult.

JOHNSON: 

That's JW Randolph, deputy commissioner at the Tennessee Department of Health. Tennessee recently launched an Office of Healthy Aging to coordinate statewide efforts to care for the state's aging communities. Randolph says communities are healthier when they come together on efforts that work for everyone. In Tennessee, county health councils are an engine for change.

RANDOLPH: 

We provide some facilitation support, but these are groups of volunteers in every county in Tennessee. There are cross-sector partnerships where health, and healthcare, and education, and chambers of commerce, and local elected officials, EMS, concerned citizens, nonprofits, and other leaders, all kind of come around the same table.

JOHNSON: 

Another approach that's worked for the state is a focus on education.

RANDOLPH: 

We support an age-friendly system called the dementia care ECHO program, which connects multidisciplinary dementia care experts with community care providers in a free, continuing education series of interactive case-based video conferencing sessions. So, through these- these training programs, providers of all different types can build expertise and become leaders in high-quality, person-centered dementia care.

JOHNSON: 

Randolph says that while a combination of tactics have made an impact in Tennessee, there's one thing that's made the biggest difference.

RANDOLPH: 

When we spent $1.5 billion in Medicaid and $4 billion as a state enterprise to support older adults, it wasn't enough. It took the courage of a lot of ordinary individuals who weren't afraid to speak out, who told their story, and who honored their loved ones through the slow, sometimes painful, but always effective work of organizing the people around them.

JOHNSON: 

If you think there's something your department can learn from Tennessee's healthy aging programs, just click the link in the show notes for more information.

As we look to the end of September, Congress is working to produce a funding plan for FY26 and avoid a government shutdown. ASTHO's government affairs team has been on the Hill all week, and Jeffrey Ekoma walks us through some potential solutions and potential impacts to Medicaid, WIC, and more in this week's View from Washington, D.C. Report.

Jeffrey, thank you again for joining us. I know it's been a busy week for you.

JEFFREY EKOMA: 

Yes, it's been a busy couple of weeks, couple of months, couple of quarters, it's been busy.

JOHNSON: 

The ASTHO GR team issued a Legislative Alert earlier in the week on FY26 funding. Talk to us about that alert, and what you would like ASTHO members to know?

EKOMA: 

Yes, there's been a flurry of activity related to funding for the federal government on the Hill the last couple of weeks. Earlier this week, the House Appropriations Committee released the Continued Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026. The bill was released by the majority, and it seeks to extend federal funding through November 21. In addition to extending funding, it also includes provisions that would allow the Department of Agriculture to continue administering WIC, extend mandatory funding for the Community Health Center Fund, the National Health Service Corps, and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program. It also extends funding for the Special Diabetes Program, and also extends some existing authorities related to emergency preparedness and other items. Now, late Wednesday, minority leadership in the House and the Senate Appropriations Committee released an alternative continuing resolution bill that would extend funding through October 31, while still extending funding from many of the programs that I just mentioned. The bill also includes language that reverses policies within the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act that may impact Medicaid, as well as language against future rescissions by the administration. [The] situation remains incredibly fluid, and the absence of a continuing resolution or a funding vehicle for programs in FY26 will trigger a government shutdown on October 1, and as always, something that we're monitoring and tracking incredibly closely in the next coming days.

JOHNSON: 

Tell us about the CMS news you have about the Rural Communities Program.

EKOMA: 

Yeah, so, earlier in the week, CMS released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Health Transformation Program, which is a program authorized by Congress as part of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. Now, applications to the program are due in early November, and there's been a lot of discussion on the Hill about the program and its expected impact to strengthen rural communities by improving health care, access, quality, and outcomes. We're incredibly grateful to CMS for their partnership and ensuring that states, in terms of health officials, are aware of all that's happening within the program, and also working with key partners to make sure that states have all that they need to submit applications.

JOHNSON: 

And there was also a hearing this week that included the former CDC director and the former CDC chief medical officer. Tell us about what we learned from that.

EKOMA: 

Yes, both doctors Monarez and Houry were on the Hill before the Senate HELP Committee to discuss recent events at CDC and their potential implications for children's health. Much of the hearing was focused on events that led to Dr. Monarez' exit from the agency, recent changes that are being made to ACIP, and the childhood immunization schedule, pandemic preparedness, and the relationship between HHS and CDC. The chair of the committee also offered an open invitation to the secretary of HHS to come before the committee to further discuss and/or respond to sentiments shared by both doctors Monarez and Houry. There hasn't been any sort of future hearings scheduled, but we'll be tracking that really closely as well.

JOHNSON: 

It's always a pleasure to talk to you, Jeffrey. We know you're really busy, so thank you for your time.

EKOMA: 

I appreciate it, and hope everyone has a great weekend.

JOHNSON: 

And coming up next week, Wednesday, September 24 at 3 p.m. Eastern, ASTHO is hosting part three of the Public Health Nursing Learning Lab Series. The session focuses on residency programs and leadership pathways. There's still time to register for that event. Just use the link in the show notes to make sure you don't miss it.

Also on deck, If you'd like to learn more about partnerships with local jurisdictions to make public health programs more effective, you may want to check out a new ASTHO resource. A recent article details the North Dakota lead prevention program and how they strengthened their coordination with tribal health officials. To read the full story, head to ASTHO's website, or you can just find the link in the show notes.

And finally, ASTHO extends a hearty congratulations to ASTHO alum Dr. John Armstrong, former surgeon general and secretary of health for the state of Florida. Armstrong was recently reelected as vice speaker of the American Medical Association House of Delegates. In this role, he serves as a liaison between ex-officials on the AMA Council on Constitution and Bylaws and the AMA political action committee. You can read more about Armstrong's impressive resume by clicking the link in the show notes.

That'll do it for today. We're back Monday morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson, you're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great weekend.