Medicaid and its Impact on Maternal and Infant Health with Joan Alker

In this extra episode, once again focusing on fast-moving developments related to health policy, Michelle welcomes back Joan Alker, Executive Director of the Center for Children and Families (CCF) and Research Professor at the Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy, to discuss "Medicaid and Its Impact on Maternal and Infant Health."

Joan is a nationally recognized expert on the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid and the lead author of CCF's annual report on trends in children's healthcare coverage. She has been published in numerous journals, reports, and blogs, covering a wide range of issues, including Medicaid Section 1115 waivers, child and family health, and the role of Medicaid in Rural areas.

During this conversation, Michelle and Joan Alker discuss the critical role of Medicaid in supporting maternal and infant health in rural communities. They explore key findings from a recent research paper, highlighting the importance of Medicaid coverage for women of childbearing age, the geographic disparities in coverage, and the potential impact of proposed Medicaid cuts on rural healthcare access. The discussion highlights the pressing need for community engagement and advocacy to safeguard vital healthcare services in rural areas.

The Rural Impact is pleased to welcome The American Heart Association as a sponsor for this and future episodes! Here's why!

The AHA believes that everyone, no matter where they live, deserves access to high-quality care. That's why they created the Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator, a program designed to help rural hospitals improve cardiovascular care and patient outcomes. The Rural Accelerator provides no-cost access to quality improvement programs, data-driven insights, learning collaboratives, recognition opportunities, and expert-guided education to support 1000 rural hospitals nationwide in delivering evidence-based care.

Rural hospitals play a critical role in their communities. Enroll today and join the movement to improve rural heart health.

Visit www.heart.org/ruralaccelerator to learn more.

Show Resources:

Digital Equity Funding:
https://www.digitalinclusion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/DEA-Funding-Per-State.pdf

Medicaid Role in Maternal and Infant Health:
https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/05/15/medicaid-plays-a-key-role-for-maternal-and-infant-health-in-rural-communities/