Federal Health Policy Update Episodes

1080: From Core Competencies to Capitol Hill: Strengthening Public Health from the Inside Out
March 4, 2026

1080: From Core Competencies to Capitol Hill: Strengthening Public Health from the Inside Out

What does it take to build a resilient public health system? Keshana Owens-Cody, director of the Office of Public Health Infrastructure at the New York State Department of Health, talks about incorporating core competencies i...
1073: Coverage, Consequences, and the Leaders Shaping Public Health’s Future
Feb. 20, 2026

1073: Coverage, Consequences, and the Leaders Shaping Public Health’s Future

What happens when health coverage becomes unaffordable, and who’s stepping up to lead in moments like this? This episode connects two powerful public health stories. First, we break down the ACA enhanced premium tax credits:...
1036: What the 2025 Government Shutdown Revealed and What Comes Next
Dec. 3, 2025

1036: What the 2025 Government Shutdown Revealed and What Comes Next

In this episode, ASTHO’s Catherine Jones, senior analyst for government affairs, breaks down the 2025 federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, and what made it uniquely disruptive compared to the 2018–2019 closure.
1019: PH Lessons From Wildfires, End-Of-Year Legislative Priorities
Oct. 27, 2025

1019: PH Lessons From Wildfires, End-Of-Year Legislative Priorities

Michelle Hale, preparedness program director with the Office of Preparedness and Response at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, shares what her state learned about responding to critical public health challenges amid a surge of wildfires in the state; Catherine Murphy, senior analyst…
1000: Rural Health Transformation Program, Youth Suicide Rates
Sept. 29, 2025

1000: Rural Health Transformation Program, Youth Suicide Rates

Catherine Jones, senior analyst of government affairs at ASTHO, breaks down what states need to know about the application for the Rural Health Transformation Program, and discusses ASTHO’s recent partnership with Cornerstone Government Affairs to host two expert panels on the subject; Dr. Lena Hei…
954: PHEP Funding, Effective Communication Strategies Webinar
July 24, 2025

954: PHEP Funding, Effective Communication Strategies Webinar

Catherine Murphy, government affairs analyst at ASTHO, describes the impact of potential cuts to federally funded public health preparedness programs in a new Federal Health Policy Update; Monique Farmer, president of Avant Solutions, shares what she’ll be discussing in today’s ASTHO webinar on pub…
934: ASTHO Deskside Briefing, Congressional Public Health Priorities
June 25, 2025

934: ASTHO Deskside Briefing, Congressional Public Health Priorities

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO president, Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO chief medical officer, Dr. Lindsay Weaver of Indiana, Dr. James McDonald of New York, and Dr. Ralph Alvarado of Tennessee, held a deskside briefing on the Impact of Nutrition on Chronic Disease Prevention; Ca…
915: Healthy Aging, New Federal Health Policy Update
May 28, 2025

915: Healthy Aging, New Federal Health Policy Update

Danny Staley, ASTHO senior vice president for public health programs and practice, details the recent Healthy Brain Initiative Summit where he presented a keynote presentation; Catherine Murphy, ASTHO government affairs analyst, explains...
827: Alpha-Gal Syndrome Interest, New Congress Priorities
Jan. 22, 2025

827: Alpha-Gal Syndrome Interest, New Congress Priorities

Courtney Anderson, a director with ASTHO’s Environmental Health Team, discusses a blog article on alpha-gal syndrome that was one of ASTHO’s most popular resources of 2024; Catherine Murphy, government affairs analyst for ASTHO, uses past...
801: Take Control of Your Birth Control Program, Lame Duck Priorities
Dec. 2, 2024

801: Take Control of Your Birth Control Program, Lame Duck Priorities

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the State of Michigan, discusses the launch of the Take Control of Your Birth Control program; Catherine Jones, ASTHO senior analyst for Government Affairs, tells us what the priorities are for the...
793: Braiding & Layering Funds, EPA PFAS Limits
Nov. 18, 2024

793: Braiding & Layering Funds, EPA PFAS Limits

Karl Ensign, ASTHO vice president for Territorial Support, tells us why braiding and layering funding can be beneficial as ASTHO launches a learning module on the subject; Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst for State Health Policy, discusses the EPA...
637: Silos Hamper Reproductive Health Work, Quitline Expands
April 5, 2024

637: Silos Hamper Reproductive Health Work, Quitline Expands

Clare Coleman, president and CEO of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, says silos can hinder access to reproductive and sexual health care; Dr. Daniel Edney, state health officer for the Mississippi State Department of...
550: Data Exchange Network Explained, Tribal Liaisons Build Connections
Nov. 22, 2023

550: Data Exchange Network Explained, Tribal Liaisons Build Connections

J.T. Lane, ASTHO senior vice president for Population Health and Innovation, discusses the impacts of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement; Catherine Jones, senior analyst for Government Affairs, looks at new congressional deadlines to...
490: Immunization Policy Statement, Fiscal Year Predictions
Aug. 25, 2023

490: Immunization Policy Statement, Fiscal Year Predictions

Kris Ehresmann, former Director of Infectious Disease at the Minnesota Department of Health, describes ASTHO’s revised policy statement; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO’s Senior Director of Government Affairs, discusses predictions for Congressional action...
424: People Power, Movement on Spending Bills
May 19, 2023

424: People Power, Movement on Spending Bills

AJ Pearlman, Director of Public Health AmeriCorps, says the organization can provide the people to support agency infrastructure improvements; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, says there is...
375: PH Communications Poll, Cultivating Gen Z Advocates
March 13, 2023

375: PH Communications Poll, Cultivating Gen Z Advocates

Alec Tyson, Associate Director of Research at Pew Research Center, explains the results of a recent poll that confirms the challenges public health agencies had communicating pandemic decisions; Emily Dore, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Klick...
344: Maine Loves Dr. Shah, Territories Moving Forward
Jan. 26, 2023

344: Maine Loves Dr. Shah, Territories Moving Forward

Dr. Nirav Shah, ASTHO Immediate Past President and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control, reflects on his work in the state of Maine as he readies for his next job as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's number two in charge;...