UNC Asheville Hosts
2023 WNC LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS
Focus on Healthcare & Health Policy in WNC
In February 2023, the WNC Health Policy Initiative at UNC Asheville’s NC Center for Health and Wellness, together with Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) and the Dogwood Health Trust, hosted the WNC legislative caucus to explore important topics related to health in Western North Carolina.
TOPICS DISCUSSED
The current state of the healthcare and public health landscape in WNC.
The needs and challenges unique to WNC health and healthcare.
The resources HPI and WNC health leaders have to offer to inform and support health policy change for the betterment of all Western North Carolinians.
“We have a unique opportunity here in Western North Carolina to really move the needle on those issues that are most important to our citizens.”
Kimberly van Noort, interim chancellor of UNC Asheville
WNC Legislative Caucus Forum on Health & Healthcare Policy
February 10, 2023 | UNC Asheville - Sherrill Center
DETAILS
The UNC Asheville Health Policy Initiative, together with MAHEC and the Dogwood Health Trust, hosted a legislative caucus on the University’s campus with the goal of exploring important topics related to health in Western North Carolina, particularly healthcare access, rural health, health workforce and public health.
The event provided attendees the opportunity to meet regional healthcare and public health leaders and learn about key health policy priorities for Western North Carolinians, including the current state of the healthcare and public health landscape in WNC; needs and challenges unique to WNC health and healthcare; and resources HPI and WNC health leaders have to offer to inform and support healthcare work.
Ten legislators who represent WNC attended the caucus, including Health Policy Initiative Expert in Residence Senator Ralph Hise; Senators Kevin Corbin, Julie Mayfield and Warren Daniel; and Representatives Ray Pickett, Eric Ager, Lindsey Prather, Mark Pless, Mike Clampitt and Jake Johnson.
PANEL PRESENTATION TOPIC OVERVIEW
HEALTH & HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE
Overview and Regional Assets
Amy Joy Lanou, Ph.D.
NCCHW, Executive Director
Professor of Health & Wellness
Healthcare Transformation
Amy Russell, MD
Mission Health Partners, Medical Director
Family Medicine Physician
Regional Public Health Data
Erin Braasch, MPH, RN
WNC Health Network, Executive Director
HEALTH & HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE
Primary Care Workforce
Bryan Hodge, DO
MAHEC, Chair of the Department of Community and Public Health
Nursing Workforce Shortage
Bill Hathaway, MD
MAHEC, CEO
Cardiologist
Community Health Workers
Evan Richardson, RN, MSN, CNM
MAHEC, Clinical Director of Community Health Transformation
MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH
Maternal Healthcare Transformation
Marc Malloy, MBA
Sevenya LLC Founder
Health Policy Institute Expert
Prenatal Care
Katlyn Tanner, BSN, RN
MAHEC
Maternal Health Innovations Team
Healthy Opportunities Pilot Overview
Laurie Stradley, DrPH
Impact Health Executive Director
Watch Keynote Presentations
HEALTH & HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE
Learn how our healthcare system can be transformed by a combination of collaborative, results-focused regional strategies and programs designed to address social needs like housing and food security to improve health outcomes and reduce preventable diseases.
Includes a snapshot of WNC’s regional assets and current trends in population health data from the WNC Health Network.
HEALTH & HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE
A shortage of primary care physicians, nurses, and many other healthcare providers is creating a “perfect storm” of reduced healthcare access, increased health disparities, and poorer health outcomes in WNC.
Learn more about the current healthcare workforce situation, and how innovative solutions such as the integration of community health workers into care delivery are being implemented to address those issues.
MATERNAL, INFANT & CHILD HEALTH
In WNC, there are only 8 hospitals that provide delivery services, resulting in reduced access to vital pre- and postnatal care, and poorer maternal and child health outcomes.
Learn how innovative programs like MAHEC’s Maternal Health Innovations Grants and Medicaid’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot are addressing WNC’s “maternal healthcare deserts,” high maternal mortality rates, and resulting increased healthcare costs.