Rural Health Today is excited to welcome to the show Ewa Panetta, director of community health impact and engagement at the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Today we’re talking about rural health safety nets and what it takes to provide access to healthcare in underserved communities. Ewa will share here perspective of how rural health has been fractured by a lack of resources and adequate reimbursement to hospitals. We’ll talk about what’s happening to our rural populations, the role hospitals have in their communities, and what it all has to do with rural health

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Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.

News sources for this episode:

Ella Ruder, “Magellan of Idaho to cut peer support, mobile mental health services,” November 21, 2025, https://www.beckersbehavioralhealth.com/behavioral-health-news/magellan-of-idaho-to-cut-peer-support-mobile-mental-health-services/, Becker’s Healthcare.

Ella Ruder, “Idaho providers link patient deaths to behavioral health program cuts,” February 20, 2026, https://www.beckersbehavioralhealth.com/behavioral-health-news/idaho-providers-link-patient-deaths-to-behavioral-health-program-cuts/, Becker’s Healthcare.

The Center for Disease Control, “Measles Cases and Outbreaks,” February 20, 2026, https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html.

Andrew Jones, “Hospitals Fighting Measles Confront a Challenge: Few Doctors Have Seen It Before,” February 24, 2026, https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/measles-outbreak-cdc-carolina-sc-nc-vaccines/, KFF Health News.

Andrea Honaker, “Mercer simulation devices aim to fill need in rural medical training,” February 24, 2026, https://den.mercer.edu/mercer-simulation-devices-aim-to-fill-need-in-rural-medical-training/, The Den. 

Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

Today, we’re back talking with John Barnas, who answers your questions on how to maintain teleheath capabilities in rural settings.

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Follow John Barnas on social media!

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Follow the Michigan Center for Rural Health on social media!

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Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.

News sources for this episode:

Marc Schollett, “Michigan lawmakers challenge rural healthcare funding criteria,” February 9, 2026, https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/michigan-lawmakers-challenge-rural-healthcare-funding-criteria, Up North Live.

Covista, “Covista Care Capacity Monitor,” https://www.covista.com/research

Mariah Taylor, “The current state of staff shortages, per executives,” February 10, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/workforce/the-current-state-of-staff-shortages-per-executives/, Becker’s Hospital Review.

Emily Schabacker, “New mental health program meets kids where they are: at school,” January 12, 2026, https://cardinalnews.org/2026/01/12/new-school-based-program-shows-promise-for-youth-mental-health/, Cardinal News.

Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

Today, we’re back talking with John Barnas, who answers your questions on how to maintain teleheath capabilities in rural settings.

Follow Rural Health Today on social media!

https://x.com/RuralHealthPod

https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665 

Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media!

https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/ 

Follow John Barnas on social media!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-barnas-a7519115/

Follow the Michigan Center for Rural Health on social media!

https://www.facebook.com/MCRH91/

Part two of our conversation with John Barnas, Executive Director at the Michigan Center for Rural Health. We continue our discussion on how rural healthcare professionals and organizations can prepare their states for the impact of funding cuts at the federal level. We’ll talk about the Rural Health Transformation Fund, how to navigate HHS and CMS guidelines and of course, what it all has to do with rural health. 

Follow Rural Health Today on social media!

⁠https://x.com/RuralHealthPod⁠

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Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media!

⁠https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠ ⁠https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠ 

Follow John Barnas on social media!

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-barnas-a7519115/⁠

Follow the Michigan Center for Rural Health on social media!

⁠https://www.facebook.com/MCRH91/⁠

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.

News sources for this episode:

Marc Schollett, “Michigan lawmakers challenge rural healthcare funding criteria,” February 9, 2026, https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/michigan-lawmakers-challenge-rural-healthcare-funding-criteria, Up North Live.

Covista, “Covista Care Capacity Monitor,” https://www.covista.com/research

Mariah Taylor, “The current state of staff shortages, per executives,” February 10, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/workforce/the-current-state-of-staff-shortages-per-executives/, Becker’s Hospital Review.

Emily Schabacker, “New mental health program meets kids where they are: at school,” January 12, 2026, https://cardinalnews.org/2026/01/12/new-school-based-program-shows-promise-for-youth-mental-health/, Cardinal News.

Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

In this episode, John Barnas, executive director at the Michigan Center for Rural Health, discusses how rural healthcare professionals and organizations can prepare their states for the impact of funding cuts at the federal level. We’ll talk about the Rural Health Transformation Fund, how to navigate HHS and CMS guidelines and of course, what it all has to do with rural health. 

Follow Rural Health Today on social media!

https://x.com/RuralHealthPod

https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665 

Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media!

https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/ 

Follow John Barnas on social media!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-barnas-a7519115/

Follow the Michigan Center for Rural Health on social media!

https://www.facebook.com/MCRH91/

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.

News sources for this episode:

Kevin B. O’Reilly, “8 wins for doctors, patients in latest federal budget deal,” February 3, 2026, https://www.ama-assn.org/health-care-advocacy/federal-advocacy/8-wins-doctors-patients-latest-federal-budget-deal, American Medical Association.

Selena Simmons-Duffin, “With an ACA fix uncertain in the Senate, Republicans replay old health care fights,” February 2, 2026, https://www.npr.org/2026/02/02/nx-s1-5695766/aca-enhanced-premium-subsidies-republicans-democrats, NPR.

Shannon Schumaker, et al. “KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs, Expiring ACA Tax Credits, and the 2026 Midterms,” January 29, 2026, https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-health-care-costs-expiring-aca-tax-credits-and-the-2026-midterms/, KFF Health News.

Ashley Kirsinger, et al. “KFF Health Tracking Poll: Prior Authorizations Rank as Public’s Biggest Burden When Getting Health Care,” February 2, 2026, https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-prior-authorizations-rank-as-publics-biggest-burden-when-getting-health-care/, KFF Health News.

Paige Twenter, “A $20,500 cap on federal student loans will strain PA workforce: Survey,” February 4, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/hospital-physician-relationships/a-20500-cap-on-federal-student-loans-will-strain-pa-workforce-survey/, Becker’s Hospital Review.

Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

In part two of our episode with Dr. Shepard, we’ll talk about the current outlook of healthcare in Michigan and beyond. With funding cuts and policy changes, hospitals are bracing for severe challenges ahead, but how can we address our concerns with our public and our state? We’ll talk about social health equity, the Rural Health Transformation Fund and of course, what it all has to do with rural health

Follow Rural Health Today on social media!

https://x.com/RuralHealthPodhttps://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665 

Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media!

https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/ 

Follow Dr. Michael Shepherd on social media!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-shepherd-phd/ 

Follow the University of Michigan School of Public Health on social media!

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/health-management-and-policy/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan-school-of-public-health/

https://www.facebook.com/umichsph