Sister Mary Haddad, President and CEO of the Catholic Health Association of the U.S

Summary

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: In-Depth Discussion with Sister Mary Haddad

Episode: Sister Mary Haddad, President and CEO of the Catholic Health Association of the U.S.
Release Date: July 3, 2025
Host: Scott Becker

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1. Introduction to Sister Mary Haddad and the Catholic Health Association

Scott Becker opens the episode by introducing Sister Mary Haddad, the President and CEO of the Catholic Health Association (CHA) of the United States. Sister Mary provides a comprehensive overview of CHA, highlighting its extensive reach and legacy. She states:

"CHA is a national leadership organization. It represents more than 2,200 Catholic hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, service providers, health systems, and other facilities across this country. [...] Nearly 300 years later, that mission continues to endure with today more than one in seven patients in the US being seen in a Catholic hospital."
(00:39)

This introduction underscores the significant role CHA plays in U.S. healthcare, emphasizing its historical commitment to compassionate care for the vulnerable.

2. The Impact of Proposed Medicaid Cuts

The conversation swiftly moves to the pressing issue of proposed Medicaid cuts within the tax or House bill. Scott Becker inquires about how these cuts could affect Catholic healthcare systems and their ability to provide essential services such as maternal healthcare, pediatric care, and addiction recovery.

Sister Mary responds poignantly:

"These cuts actually strike at the very heart of our mission... closing of services. We'll see potential closing of hospitals. We have to recognize that there are finite resources and we're going to have to look at how we'll reallocate those resources."
(02:12)

She elaborates on the broader implications, noting that reductions in funding will hinder CHA’s efforts to address community-based health needs and social determinants of health, such as housing and access to healthy food.

3. Broader Impact on Faith-Based and Non-Faith-Based Healthcare Systems

Scott raises the concern that Medicaid cuts will not only impact faith-based systems like CHA but also non-faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare providers. Sister Mary emphasizes the widespread repercussions:

"Catholic health care is actually the largest provider of not-for-profit health care in this country... health care in this country as we have known it will be gutted. And so there will be dire consequences as a result of this."
(04:24)

She recounts her personal experience working in inner-city St. Louis, highlighting the shared mission among not-for-profit providers to serve the most in need, regardless of faith affiliation.

4. Political Dynamics Surrounding the Medicaid Cuts

The discussion shifts to the political landscape influencing the fate of the Medicaid cuts. Scott points out the narrow passage of the bill in both the Senate and the House, emphasizing the political risks Republican lawmakers face.

Sister Mary shares her concerns:

"We've lost sight... it's going to have an impact on your state if it impacts the whole. And I think that's something that we in Catholic healthcare have historically always promoted... the collective impact this is going to have is going to be detrimental to the common good."
(06:42)

She criticizes lawmakers for prioritizing state-specific gains and personal reelection over the national common good, expressing hope that some House members will uphold their integrity over political pressures.

5. The Common Good and the Future of Healthcare

Sister Mary articulates a vision centered on the common good, stressing that healthcare decisions should benefit the entire nation rather than individual states or political parties. Her perspective calls for a holistic approach to healthcare that transcends partisan divides, aiming to protect and enhance the well-being of all citizens.

"Promotion of the common good... the collective impact this is going to have is going to be detrimental to the common good."
(06:42)

6. Reflections on the Newly Elected Pope

In a lighter segment, Scott shifts the conversation to the election of a new Pope from the United States. Sister Mary shares her excitement and personal experience witnessing the Pope's announcement and appearance:

"The energy was unbelievable. [...] I believe that's what got him elected. So I'm thrilled, I'm thrilled I have not had the opportunity to personally meet him and I hope to do that someday."
(09:22)

This exchange provides a personal glimpse into Sister Mary's connection to the broader Catholic community and her enthusiasm for the Pope's global perspective.

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Scott and Sister Mary engage in a brief, friendly exchange about Chicago sports teams, adding a personable touch to the discussion. Scott commends Sister Mary for her leadership and the invaluable work of the Catholic Health Association.

"I love the work that you do. We love the work that Cath association does... Sister, thank you so much for joining us today."
(10:38)

Sister Mary reciprocates the gratitude, concluding the episode on a note of mutual respect and appreciation.

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Key Takeaways:

• Significant Impact of Medicaid Cuts: The proposed legislation threatens to undermine the core mission of faith-based and not-for-profit healthcare providers, potentially leading to service closures and reduced community health initiatives.

• Political Challenges: Republican lawmakers face a tightrope between fulfilling party lines and addressing the broader needs of the common good, especially in the face of potential reelection risks.

• Common Good over Partisanship: Sister Mary advocates for a unified approach to healthcare that prioritizes national well-being over individual or state interests.

• Legacy and Leadership of CHA: The Catholic Health Association remains a pivotal player in U.S. healthcare, deeply rooted in a centuries-old tradition of compassion and service to the vulnerable.

This episode of Becker’s Healthcare Podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of healthcare policy, faith-based service, and political dynamics, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and perspectives shaping the future of healthcare in the United States.

Transcript

[A]

This is Scott Becker with the Becker's Healthcare Podcast. I am thrilled today to be joined by a fascinating and fantastic leader. We're joined today by Sister Mary Haddad, who's the president and CEO of the Catholic Health association of the United States. She's going to talk to us today about the tax or House bill, Medicaid cuts, what she's seeing, some of the thoughts and a lot more. Sister Hadad. Mary, such a pleasure to have you on.

[B]

It's a pleasure to be with you.

[A]

Well, thank you. Can you take a second and introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about the Catholic Health association of the United States?

[B]

I sure can. And as you already said, I'm a Sister of mercy and I serve as president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association. And I've been at this role since 2019, right before COVID And I've worked at CHA since 2009. CHA is a national leadership organization. It represents more than 2,200 Catholic hospitals, long term care facilities, clinics, service providers, health systems and other facilities across this country. And what is, I think, so unique about Catholic healthcare is that this ministry has a legacy of compassion that really stretches back to 1727, when the French Ursuline Sisters arrived in what is now New Orleans to care for people who were poor and vulnerable. And nearly 300 years later, that mission continues to endure with today more than one in seven patients in the US Being seen in a Catholic hospital.

[A]

I mean, that's literally a remarkable number, that one in seven patients are seen in the Catholic House. As we get to the hospital today, what's called rights in the chase today, what would propose cuts to Medicaid? How are those going to impact Catholic health care? The great systems, their ability to provide services like maternal health care, pediatric care, addiction recovery, and other services that so many rely on from Catholic health systems. How are Medicaid cuts going to impact that? What are some of your thoughts and what do you project?

[B]

Yeah, so, Scott, I think it's important to state that these cuts actually strike at the very heart of our mission and that, as I said, in providing care for all, people come to our doors, you know, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. And so, yes, this is definitely going to have dire impact on our ministries. We're going to see, you know, closing of services. We'll see potential closing of hospitals. We have to recognize that there are finite resources and we're going to have to look at how we'll reallocate those resources. And it's going to take some really challenging Planning and letting go. I also want to say that, you know, over the past 10 years we've seen more emphasis on addressing community based health needs and talked a lot about the importance of addressing the social determinants of health. Those very things that we know have a direct impact on whether you're healthy or not. You know, your housing, you know, your access to healthy foods, clean water, a whole host of things. So for years we've been addressing more of those programs and ensuring that we are looking at healthcare from a holistic perspective. We're not gonna have the ability to continue those things and those types of programming. So we're gonna see a change in that. Also. We've yet to really understand the full impact these cuts will have on not for profit health care in this country.

[A]

And speaking of that, many of the cuts will impact both faith based systems and non faith based systems. Sister, where are some of the places? I mean essentially all this is going to impact both, isn't it? I mean the faith based and non faith based. Of course, three or four of the largest systems in the country. Our faith based, the common spirits, the providences, the trinities, the ascensions of mercy. I mean so many. But these will affect faith based and not faith based, a lot of them. Right?

[B]

That's absolutely right. And to say that Catholic health care is actually the largest provider of not for profit health care in this country. So that in addition to all the other not for profit providers who are not faith based represents a huge footprint in this country. So and there's going to be a similar impact on all, you know, those. I years ago, Scott, I worked in inner city St. Louis as a social worker and worked a lot with other not for profit providers and there are similar missions and it is really focused on service to those most in need, service in our community. And they're going to be impacted the same way Catholic healthcare will be impacted by these cuts. So you know, if, if this bill becomes law, health care in this country as we have known it will be gutted. And so there will be dire consequences as a result of this.

[A]

Thank you. Right now the bill passed the Senate and we'll go back to the House for reconciliation. It passed the Senate literally not even by a vote by the Vice President, placing the tie breaking vote. J.D. vance and in the House only passed by one vote. So they've still got to reconcile these two bills. But on the Republican side it's politically very challenging to go against the bill because people have to run every two years and they're scared to get primaries. People have to be really more worried about what they think is right than their political life to vote against this. So it's a really challenging spot for Republican lawmakers. Talk a little bit about Sister God. When you look at this, I take it I don't. I mean, I'm asking I tell one you're a sister of mercy, and the first thing I tell you is to have fun today. I'm not sure if that's even an appropriate thing to tell a sister do to have fun. The second thing is I'm going to ask her to handicap. And I know sisters aren't supposed to gamble, but I know some priests have right. But tell me, are we are we allowed to handicap and bet on will the bill pass or not? What are your political people saying? What do they expect are their expectations around it?

[B]

Well, you know, I think passing the Senate was a surprise for me personally, Scott. Let me just say that because I thought in the conversations we were having with particular senators that, you know, we, you know, had their assumed their no vote on this and that shifted. What's troubling to me is how we've lost sight, we, meaning lawmakers, have lost sight of the common good that, you know, we can't just look at what's going to be best for my state. It's going to have an impact on your state if it impacts the whole. And I think that's something that we in Catholic healthcare have historically always promoted, not only the dignity of each and every person, but promotion of the common good. And the collective impact this is going to have is going to be detrimental to the common good. So, you know, I don't know. I mean, certainly we're all watching this very closely. I hope that there will be enough in the House that will be able to stand firm in their own integrity and belief and recognize that their service to the people at large is more important than their reelection.

[A]

Yes, you hit that two different ways. Generously. You said it first that some of these senators and Republicans might be more loyal to their home state than they are to good as a whole. And I thought that was very generous. And then I think the second time you hit it exactly right and down the middle, more concerned about their own reelection than they are about whatever else is the consequences. And it's really complicated because you've got two different pieces. There are multiple different pieces there. You got one piece. You've got a set on the right that has always been so aggressively hawkish on the deficit and now seems to have thrown that out the window as this bill will increase the deficits versus decrease them. So that's, that's the part, I think, that one part that's so hard for Republican lawmakers to square with what they've been saying the last 48 years. Then the other part is the gutting of some of the social programs. And that itself is really challenging as well and trying to figure a way for services and coverage to be taken care of for people. But you really do have a fascinating, politically volatile situation and we'll see how it plays out. Sister, talk to us about a little bit further. I'm going to ask you one question. You let me know if I'm off base. So were you as excited as we were to have a Pope elected from the United States, or do you not comment on that?

[B]

Oh, absolutely. I have to say, Scott, I had the pleasure. I was actually in the airport when the announcement was made. I was on my way to Rome and I had the privilege of being at St Peter's on Sunday for a general audience. And, and the energy was unbelievable. And I want to say, although Pope Leo is from Chicago, we all know that. Right. So White Sox fan, but he has spent a good bit of his time in South America. He was in Peru. And so I want to say he's a man of the world. Even though we in the US Want to claim him, I think his perspective and his understanding of the global church is really important. And I do believe that's what got him elected. So I'm thrilled, I'm thrilled I have not had the opportunity to personally meet him and I hope to do that someday.

[A]

Thank you. And I tell you, with myself being a Chicago sports fan, I think it bites. Well, the Chicago Bears and the other Chicago sports teams, but we'll see if that's actually the case.

[B]

That's right. Well, Scott, I'll tease a little bit here because I'm from St. Louis. So what I've said is he may be a White Sox fan, but it was the Cardinals who got him where he is now.

[A]

Yes, 100% true. That's a great, great, great play. On word, it really is the College of Cardinals, not the St. Louis Cardinals, but it works. And I take it we all know that he's not a Cubs fan. Sister Dot, I love the work that you do. We love the work that Cath association does and quite frankly, we get a chance to visit regularly with some of the great faith based systems in the country. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to visit with you today. I think I messed up early when I said Bon Secours. Mercy is the proper name of that system. But Trinity, Providence, Ascension, Common Spirit. You know, so many magnificent Catholic health systems in the country. So many great faith based systems as well. Sister, thank you so much for joining us today on the Becker's Healthcare podcast.

[B]

Thank you so much, Scott.