WNC Health Policy Brief: AI Guardrails, Hospital Merging Backlash, Inspections, Abortion Implications, BOE Lawsuit & GLP-1s (5-26-26)

WNC Health Policy Brief: WNC Provider Map, Ongoing Budget Breakdown, WCMS Investment & more (7-14-26)

Provider Mapping Tool for WNC * In our most recent Friday Forum, we heard about MAHEC's FindMyCareWNC [https://mahec.net/regional-initiatives/itacc-resource-map] tool- an interactive map that shows primary care, behavioral health, dental services, substance use treatment, reproductive health, WIC, etc across WNC . It can serve as a referral tool for providers and helps community leaders identify service gaps. Maternal Health: * NC's Budget has a directed grant of $800,000 [https://webservices.ncleg.gov/ViewNewsFile/116/Final_Committee_Report_SB257_2026_06_30]in non-recurring funds to MAHEC for Project CARA [https://mahec.net/obgyn/project-cara] which expands access to evidence-based perinatal substance use disorder treatment and care coordination across western North Carolina. * The NC Maternal and Child Health Perinatal Strategic Plan [https://wicws.dph.ncdhhs.gov/docs/PerinatalHealthStrategicPlanWEB_081922.pdf] also received $3,398 in recurring funds, * Perinatal Quality Collaborative of North Carolina [https://pqcnc.org/] did not receive continued funding * Planned Parenthood has regained access to federal funding [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5952223-planned-parenthood-regains-funding/] for non-abortion services nationwide as of Saturday, July 4th, one year after Republicans cut its clinics off from Medicaid as part of HR1, aka “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in 2025. Childcare Subsidy Floor * North Carolina's new budget invests $97 million each year in child care subsidies [https://www.commerce.nc.gov/nc-child-care-subsidy-reimbursement-rate-fact-sheet/open] and sets a statewide minimum reimbursement rate for the first time. This helps ensure rural child care providers are paid more fairly for the care they provide. Listen to other childcare policy opportunities [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wnc-health-policy-initiative-hpi-podcast/id1746162226?i=1000691875078] in Episode 9. Read about FFN care in WNC [https://www.smartstarttransylvania.org/family-friend-and-neighbor-advocacy].  Local Investment * The Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) received a $510,000 investment [https://www.mywcms.org/wcms-uhc-investment/]from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina to expand healthcare access for uninsured patients, strengthen medical interpreter services, and support clinician well-being across WNC. Policy Update * Gov. Stein vetos ‘unauthorized camping’ homeless ban, HB 437 [https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/h437] Cyclospora Updates * While links have been drawn in several states to this parasite found in lettuce distributed by Taylor Farms to certain Taco Bell chains, there has not been an established link to cases seen in WNC.  * Federal officials scaled back routine CDC surveillance for Cyclospora done through FoodNet [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-stopped-monitoring-diarrhea-parasite_n_6a51348fe4b057296980d94b]in 2025. While states still report cases, national tracking is less comprehensive than it was before, slowing public health action. * Read NCDHHS updates here [https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2026/07/17/ncdhhs-provides-update-cyclosporiasis-north-carolina]   The weekly 'WNC Health Policy Brief' will be paused, but stay tuned for more long form interviews.

WNC Health Policy Brief: NC's Budget, Healthcare Affordability, and SNAP (7-6-26)

This week, on the WNC Health Policy Initiative Podcast, we discuss: * some of the biggest health implications after North Carolina's long-awaited state budget finally became law after more than a year without a full budget * Governor Josh Stein's Executive Order No. 39 creating the bipartisan Health Care Affordability Commission to address rising medical costs & * a recent federal court ruling on state efforts to restrict SNAP purchases of certain foods.

Episode 27: Sustaining our Mental Healthcare Workforce

In this episode, we begin to explore the mental health and substance use landscape of Western North Carolina through the experience of clinician Lissa Carter, who has worked across recovery, community mental health, education, and clinical leadership roles in Buncombe County. We learn about her experiences with our workforce shortages and insurance barriers, and care fragmentation, alongside regional strengths like harm reduction initiatives and training pipelines. It sets up a broader discussion on how policy shapes access, retention, and outcomes in mental health care.

WNC Health Policy Brief: Gallup on Healthcare Cost, AI Pilot in Medicare, Gov Veto Override, RHT & Settlement (6-29-26)

* According to the 2026 West Health-Gallup Affordability Index, Americans’ ability to afford healthcare has fallen to its lowest level since tracking began in 2021. Fewer than half of U.S. adults (49%) are considered “Cost Secure,” meaning they cannot consistently afford needed healthcare services and prescription medications. * Although CMS Medicare Pilot, WISeR, whose stated intention was to reduce fraud and unnecessary care, critics say it is causing treatment delays, added administrative burden, and inappropriate denials for Medicare patients. * According the chief medical examiner in NC, counties' with the highest average fentanyl death rates include Buncombe County at number 5 (22.9) and Burke County at number 8 (21.5) vs the state average of 12.5. * On June 24th, the General Assembly overrode the Governor's vetos of NC Senate Bills 227 and 558 (impacting targeted health initiatives) and 153 (impacting communities' ability to access care) * Federal health grants delayed (including 988 services, disease surveillance, and opioid treatment grants) while undergoing a review screening for language found to be unacceptable. * The NC Senate approved House Bill 437, which would prohibit local governments from allowing homeless encampments on public property, create stricter drug penalties near homeless service providers, and allow legal action against local governments that fail to enforce the ban; the measure now awaits further action after Senate passage. * June 24th featured a ROOTS Hub webinar by the NCDHHS where region leads introduced themselves (Impact Health for WNC) and introduced a new partnership with NCDIT for a health information exchange . * Elevance Health, which covers about 2 million people on Medicare, paid the government more than $342 million to address allegations that it overcharged the federal healthcare program for years.

WNC Health Policy Brief: Transportation, Hospital Beds, State Pay, Fear & Mental Health (6/22/26)

coming soon