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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: National Association of Rural Health Clinics, “Congress Takes Steps to Exempt Health Care Workers from New H-1B Fee,” April 16, 2026, https://www.narhc.org/News/33042/Congress-Takes-Steps-to-Exempt-Health-Care-Workers-from-New-H-1B-Fee. Congress.gov, “Text - H.R.7691 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act of 2026,” https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/lawler_169_xml.pdf. Rural Health Research Gateway, “Identification and Characteristics of Under-Resourced and High-Need Rural Counties,” April 13, 2026, https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/alerts/708. Rural Health Research Gateway, “County-Level Differences in Health Professional Shortage Areas by Rurality, Age, and Disability Status,” April 9, 2026, https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/alerts/693. Kayla Robbins, “A Therapy Office on Wheels Is Reaching Homeless Youth Left Behind,” April 9, 2026, https://invisiblepeople.tv/a-therapy-office-on-wheels-is-reaching-homeless-youth-left-behind/. 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.

I am thrilled to be in the studio with today’s special guest, Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, founding director at Boston University Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases. Today we’re talking about infectious disease management in rural healthcare settings. Dr. Bhadelia is here to share her perspective and insight as an infectious disease physician. We’ll talk about the role hospitals play in infectious disease prevention, public trust in healthcare authorities, 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 our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/nahid-bhadelia-81a775b7/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/buceid/ https://www.bu.edu/ceid/

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: Sabrina Ho, “NRHA Statement on the President’s FY 2027 Budget Request,” April 3, 2026, https://www.ruralhealth.us/blogs/2026/04-april/nrha-statement-on-the-president%E2%80%99s-fy-2027-budget-request, National Rural Health Association. Molly Gamble, “756 hospitals at risk of closure, state by state,” December 26, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/756-hospitals-at-risk-of-closure-state-by-state/, Becker’s Hospital Review. Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, “Rural Hospitals at Risk of Closing,” January 2026, https://chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf. Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga, “These Kansas elementary students dissect frogs — and it could help fight a doctor shortage,” April 7, 2026, https://www.kcur.org/health/2026-04-07/these-kansas-elementary-students-dissect-frogs-and-it-could-help-fight-a-doctor-shortage, Kansas City Public Radio. 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’s guest on Rural Health Today is Julie Soekoro, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Hamilton Health Care System in Dalton, Georgia. Rural hospitals face unique challenges in financial sustainability, but serve an irreplaceable role in our communities. Telling that story effectively will be key to closing the gap between the reality of rural health and how legislators understand the impact of policy. We’ll talk about nonprofit healthcare, the challenges of rural health income statements 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 Julie Soekoro on social media! https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-soekoro-6aa2521b/ Follow the Hamilton Healthcare System on social media! https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonHealthcareSystem

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: Madeline Scheetz, “HHS, CMS form healthcare advisory committee,” March 26, 2026, https://www.beckerspayer.com/leadership/hhs-cms-form-healthcare-advisory-committee/, Becker’s Payer Issues. Paul Keckley, “Reality Check: the New Healthcare Advisory Committee,” March 29, 2026, https://paulkeckley.com/the-keckley-report/2026/3/29/reality-check-the-new-healthcare-advisory-committee/. Sophie Brams, “Kennedy, Oz announce new health care advisory committee,” March 26, 2026, https://thehill.com/homenews/5803303-kennedy-oz-healthcare-reform/, The Hill. Westat, “Workforce Development Drives Solutions to Rural Healthcare Shortages,” December 17, 2025, https://www.westat.com/insights/workforce-solutions-rural-healthcare-shortages/. Rural Health Information Hub, “Rural Healthcare Workforce,” https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/health-care-workforce. Jade Tate, “OPINION: Patient care will suffer if we don’t attract more young people to healthcare fields,” May 7, 2024, https://hechingerreport.org/opinion-patient-care-will-suffer-if-we-dont-attract-more-young-people-to-healthcare-fields/, The Hechinger Report. Kelly Gooch, “As maternity units close, AdventHealth restores OB care in rural Kansas,” March 27, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/care-coordination/as-maternity-units-close-adventhealth-restores-ob-care-in-rural-kansas/, 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.

Rural Health Today welcomes Dr. Ross Ramsey, president and chief executive officer at Scheurer Health, as this week’s guest. In this episode we’ll talk about how the trust between physicians, patients and health organizations has been fractured in rural health, and what it will take to repair that trust. Dr. Ramsey will share his perspective on how rural hospitals can build relationships with their communities and how it benefits patients to do so. We’ll talk about health literacy, social determinants of health and 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 our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossramsey/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/scheurerhealth/ https://www.facebook.com/ScheurerHealth

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: Lauren Weber, “RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz have a plan to save rural health care. Here’s the catch.,” March 24, 2026, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2026/03/24/rfk-jr-dr-oz-plan-save-rural-health-care-heres-catch/89297731007/, The Detroit News. The Washington Post, “RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz have a plan to save rural health care. Here’s the catch.,” March 24, 2026, https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/03/23/rural-health-ai-medical-tech/. Bridget Early, “Providers urge CMS to scrap ACA exchanges overhaul,” March 25, 2026, https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-cms-aca-exchanges-rule-providers/, Modern Healthcare. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “CMS Proposes Regulations to Lower Health Care Costs, Expand Consumer Choice, and Protect Taxpayers,” https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-regulations-lower-health-care-costs-expand-consumer-choice-protect-taxpayers. Madeline de Figueirdo, “Virtual Crisis Care Helps Rural Communities Access Mental Health Resources in Emergencies,” March 2, 2026, https://dailyyonder.com/virtual-crisis-care-helps-rural-communities-access-mental-health-resources-in-emergencies/2026/03/02/, Daily Yonder. 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.

Alicia Faust, principal at Forivs Mazars US, joins us on today’s episode of Rural Health Today. Many hospitals and healthcare providers struggle to make financial and operational processes work in a way that supports the best interests of the organization and the patients they serve while remaining compliant. In this episode, Alicia will guide us through her recommendations for rural hospitals navigating these challenges. We’ll price transparency, clinical documentation, 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 Alicia Faust on social media! https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-faust-7274255/ Follow Forzis Mazars on social media! https://www.linkedin.com/company/forvis-mazars-us/https://www.facebook.com/ForvisMazarsGroup

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: Lunna Lopes Et al., “Cost Concerns and Coverage Changes: A Follow-Up Survey of ACA Marketplace Enrollees,” March 19, 2026, https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/a-follow-up-survey-of-aca-marketplace-enrollees/, KFF Health News. Julie Appleby, “Many ACA Customers Are Paying Higher Premiums. Most Blame Trump and Republicans, Poll Finds.,” March 19, 2026, https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/kff-poll-aca-obamacare-higher-premiums-blame-trump-gop/, KFF Health News. Chartis, “2026 rural health state of the state,” February 10, 2026, https://www.chartis.com/insights/2026-rural-health-state-state. Reuters, “Stryker says cyberattack on its network contained,” March 17, 2026, https://www.reuters.com/technology/stryker-says-cyberattack-its-network-contained-2026-03-17/. Ron Southwick, “The Stryker cyberattack and what hospitals should be doing,” March 13, 2026, https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/the-stryker-cyberattack-and-what-hospitals-should-be-doing, Chief Healthcare Executive. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Measles Cases and Outbreaks,” March 13, 2026, https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html. Michigan Health & Hospital Association, “Hospitals Help: Mackinac Straits Retail Pharmacy Serves as a Lifeline in Northern Michigan,” March 6, 2026, https://www.mha.org/newsroom/hospitals-help-mackinac-straits-retail-pharmacy-serves-as-a-lifeline-in-northern-michigan/. 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.

Rural Health Today is excited to welcome to the show Amy Brown, chief nursing officer at the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. In this episode we’ll cover workplace violence in healthcare settings and the impact it has on care teams. Amy will share her perspective on how rural health has been fractured by violent actions against the healthcare staff who are the heart of our hospitals. We’ll talk about burnout as a result of workplace violence, resources hospitals can employ, and 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 our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-brown-88324043/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/michiganhospitals/posts/?feedView=allhttps://www.facebook.com/MichiganHospitals