Catherine Jones, MPH
July 6, 2026
1159: Strengthening Public Health Through Preparedness
On today's episode, Catherine Jones, senior analyst of Government Affairs at ASTHO, breaks down the importance of federal preparedness in strengthening public health.
Guest: Catherine Jones, MPH
June 15, 2026
1146: Budget Battles and Capitol Hill Updates
On today's episode, Catherine Jones, senior analyst for government affairs at ASTHO, breaks down HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s FY27 budget hearings. Then, Jeffrey Ekoma, vice president of government affairs at ASTHO, highlights a recent Legislative Alert and developments in congressional appropriations, pending leadership nominations, and more.
Guests: Jeffrey Ekoma, MBA, MS , Catherine Jones, MPH
April 15, 2026
1107: Public Health Leaders Push for Funding, Flexibility, and Rural Transformation
On today's episode, ASTHO's Catherine Jones shares the biggest takeaways from this year's Spring Leadership Forum, from the growing impact of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) to the urgent push for $1 billion in FY27 funding.
Guest: Catherine Jones, MPH
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: what they were, who they helped, and what’s at stake now that they’ve expired. Catherine Jones, senior analyst for government affairs at ASTHO, will explain how these pandemic-era subsidies dramatically expanded access to marketplace coverage, helping middle-income famili...
Guests: James Bell III DSW MSW , Catherine Jones, MPH
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.
Guest: Catherine Jones, MPH
405
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 Heilmann, director of the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment,...
Guests: Catherine Jones, MPH , Lena Heilmann PhD MNM
341
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; Catherine Jones, senior analyst of government affairs at ASTHO, shares...
514
May 14, 2025
906: PH 40 Under 40, Get to Know ASTHO
Brittany Giles-Cantrell, program director at the de Beaumont Foundation, tells us why de Beaumont’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health program is so valuable; Catherine Jones, ASTHO government affairs senior analyst, tells us her journey to ASTHO in this week’s “Get to Know ASTHO” segment...
438
Jan. 24, 2025
829: Overdose Prevention in the Justice System, Fentanyl Crisis Federal Action
JoAnne McClure, senior analyst on ASTHO’s State Health Policy Team, discusses a new ASTHO Health Policy Update that centers on the need for more overdose prevention supports for those in the criminal justice system; Catherine Jones, ASTHO Government...
Guests: JoAnne Deehr MSW , Catherine Jones, MPH
410
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...
759
Sept. 16, 2024
750: Heat Draws Policy Response, School Nurses Prep to Help Kids in Emergencies
Catherine Jones, senior analyst, Government Affairs, ASTHO, outlines a new ASTHO blog article about the federal response to rising temperatures; Bobbi Krabill, deputy director, Office of Performance and Innovation, Ohio Department of Health, discusses...
Guests: Catherine Jones, MPH , Bobbi Krabill
334
Aug. 9, 2024
725: Baltimore Overdose Deaths, SNAP Funding Critical
Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, distinguished professor of practice at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the former Baltimore City health commissioner, explains the ups and downs of overdose deaths in Baltimore across the last decade;...
Guests: Joshua Sharfstein MD , Catherine Jones, MPH
277
May 20, 2024
668: NJ Contraception Case Study, Federal Discussions on Aging
Liz Gipson, senior program officer at the Center for Health Care Strategies, discusses a case study about New Jersey contraception legislation that ASTHO partnered on; Catherine Jones, ASTHO senior analyst for Government Affairs, says the federal...
Guests: Catherine Jones, MPH , Liz Gipson MPH
234
March 18, 2024
623: Readiness Report Ranks States and DC, Hill Day Gets High Marks
Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, president and CEO of Trust for America's Health, discusses the 21st edition of the Ready or Not Report; Catherine Jones, ASTHO Government Affairs senior analyst, tells us ASTHO’s Hill Day program in late February continues to...
Guests: J. Nadine Gracia MD MSCE , Catherine Jones, MPH
199
Jan. 26, 2024
588: Legislation to Manage A-I, Congress Discusses Workforce Issues
Catherine Jones, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Government Affairs, says there are discussions underway to ensure the AI is managed properly; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO Senior Director for Government Affairs, tells us Congress remains busy as January nears an...
161
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...