Community Catalyst

Communities shouldn’t have to wait until a hospital closes or a maternity ward disappears to know their healthcare is at risk. Community Health Market Watch™️ combines data + community voices to help advocates see warning signs earlier. https://pulse.ly/lfztqgwylt

Affordable healthcare is top of mind for Rachel this election. She knows she’s one of the 98% of Americans who are one medical emergency away from catastrophic debt. “My family would go into debt,” she says, “or I would die.” Next Tuesday, vote like your health depends on it. Because it does.

Hospital closures. Medicaid cuts. Rising uninsured rates. What do this week’s headlines tell us about the future of healthcare access? Community Health Market Watch tracks emerging threats and opportunities across the country. 📩 Get the weekly briefing: https://pulse.ly/hl8kuhdrjd

HOSPITAL CRISIS WATCH: Hospitals and clinics are closing in waves. Over 1,250 have shut down, cut services, or are at risk of it since Republicans cut more than $1 trillion from health care. Over 40% of rural hospitals are now operating at a loss. www.protectourcare.org/hospital-cri...

Everyone has their reason for being a healthcare voter. For Amanda, it all started with a diagnosis for an autoimmune disorder. Suddenly, she could no longer perform basic chores, and the bills piled up. Many of us are one medical emergency away from debt. Why are you going to #VoteLikeHealth?

Medicaid is more than health insurance. And contraceptives are more than prevention. According to a 2024 @kff.org survey, 34% of people use contraception for reasons beyond preventing pregnancy. If you've used Medicaid to access repro care, we want to hear from you: https://pulse.ly/7chbossirt

“Equipment is necessary but not sufficient.” Shaina Goodman explains why rural EMS needs more than new ambulances & equipment: sustainable funding must cover the full scope of care EMS teams provide, not just patient transport. Read more via @blavity.bsky.social: www.yahoo.com/news/us/arti...

What would it take to build community power that lasts beyond elections and political shifts? We're launching a new pilot across six communities to test a co-created model for lasting, systemic change. Because health justice requires power that lasts. communitycatalyst.org/news/communi...

During National Hispanic Heritage Month & every day, protecting immigrants' health & well-being is crucial to expanding reproductive freedom for all. Our new fact sheet examines the Trump administration's anti-immigrant agenda & how policymakers can fight back. Learn more: https://gu.tt/4s0CiFj

Nearly 14M people are eligible for both Medicare & Medicaid. People like Kaitlin. We're thrilled to continue our work with support from Arnold Ventures to advance equitable, person-centered care & ensure their voices shape policy. Learn more about this work: communitycatalyst.org/news/communi...

This election season, voters are asking themselves the important questions. When we asked what's on their minds & their ballots, 57.4% identified safeguarding Medicaid and keeping people covered a top priority. That's why we're going to #VoteLikeHealth. Is your coverage accessible? It should be.

And we won't stop until we get there. Because healthcare needs to work for you — not the other way around. Healthcare needs to be: ✅ accessible ✅ affordable ✅ accountable It's that simple.

Many communities already know a great deal on what they need to be healthier, but institutions often don’t listen until there’s enough research to “prove” it. More from @communitycatalyst.org's Brandon Wilson and other health leaders in a recent PCC webinar ⬇️ thepcc.pub/kitchentocli...

“The diagnosis itself was scary, but even scarier is the thought, if I didn’t have Medicaid.” Thankfully, this working mom had support as she battled cancer. Like millions of people, Eboni depended on Medicaid when it felt like her world was crumbling. This isn't just a program. It's a lifeline.

Voters know what we want. In a recent poll, 61.3% of people identified the cost of insurance premiums as a top concern this November. Now it's up to elected officials to listen to Gloria and millions like her. As you vote, ask yourself: how much is care really costing you?

We’re making sure healthcare is on the ballot. Watch this new video to hear from our Vice President of Policy & Gov Affairs on what our latest polling reveals about voter concerns this fall. Then take the #VoteLikeHealth pledge to bring YOUR top healthcare issues to the polls: lnkd.in/dbKWk9W7

Maternal care is out of reach for too many women. Mothers like Latunya rely on programs like Medicaid to make care affordable where they live. But now, their access to that very care is being threatened. More Medicaid cuts = more closures = maternity deserts It's that simple.

People aren’t investments. Healthcare isn’t a cash machine. Communities aren’t commodities. We’re glad to see the Stop Wall Street Looting Act reintroduced today by @warren.senate.gov @pocan.house.gov @jayapal.house.gov @repgreglandsman.bsky.social to hold PE accountable to workers & individuals.

States are moving fast on OBBBA Medicaid changes. A new guide from @communitycatalyst.org and @nhelp.bsky.social NHeLP helps advocates navigate oversight, identify advocacy strategies, and take action. By Kaylan Szafranski & Elizabeth Edwards. healthlaw.org/resource/sta...

"Can you imagine going from a monthly premium of zero to $850?" That's what happened to Dina Rose Friedman, 64, after Republicans in Congress took away the ACA tax credits that kept her coverage affordable. "I remember freaking out."

🚨 BREAKING LITIGATION NEWS 🚨@nhelp.bsky.social @democracyforward.org & our partners are fighting to protect people with diabetes, cancer, HIV, substance use disorders & disabling mental health conditions who rely on Medicaid care. Learn more! healthlaw.org/news/medicai...

This November, I'm Voting Like My Health Depends On It because I believe health belongs on the ballot. Join me in taking the #VoteLikeHealth pledge. And let me know what issues are at the top of YOUR ballot this fall. share.commcat.io/s/fXFxXj1Z

This November, I'm Voting Like My Health Depends On It because I believe affordable healthcare belongs on the ballot. Join me in taking the #VoteLikeHealth pledge. And let me know what issues are at the top of YOUR ballot this fall. share.commcat.io/s/reR95oQF

We heard from countless voters about why they’re going to #VoteLikeHealth this Nov. From ending medical debt & defending repro health, addressing hospital closures & expanding Medicaid insurance — everyone has a healthcare story. Now, the results are in. How do they compare to yours? Let us know!

How can primary care teams make nutrition-based interventions work for the communities they serve? TMRW: Join @thepcc.org for a conversation w/ Brandon Wilson on the role of nutrition in primary care, what effective implementation looks like, & how teams are supporting patients’ health & wellbeing.

The new Contraceptive Access Maps we created with @powertodecide.bsky.social offer two ways to look at county-level birth control access across the US. Learn more: powertodecide.org/contraceptiv...

NEW: Recent USPSTF appointments raise questions about the future of evidence-based preventive care. “The USPSTF is a major player affecting the health & pocketbooks of everyone,” says Shaina Goodman, Community Catalyst’s VP of Policy and Gov Affairs. Read more: communitycatalyst.org/news/overhau...

When this Kentucky family man worked in the mines, he was able to cover costs through his employers insurance. Even though that meant hundreds of dollars a month for co-pays & OOP costs. Thanks to Medicaid, that’s now one less worry for Brandon. “If it wasn’t for that, I don’t know what we do."

Home and community-based services help people with disabilities and older adults live and age in their communities. A recent federal court case could threaten key protections for community integration. Our new blog breaks down what happened and what advocates can do: https://pulse.ly/imzrgqcrwu

What if nonprofit & business leaders aren't speaking diff languages — they just haven't learned to translate? Our Pres & CEO Linda Goler Blount calls it “bilingual leadership”: making a moral & a business case w/o diluting either. Read more on @fastcompany.com: www.fastcompany.com/91607370/bil...

It's #NationalVoterRegistrationDay! What better time to consider what healthcare issues will shape your vote? Share what matters most — from healthcare costs & Rx drugs to insurance affordability, hospital closures, medical debt, & more. Take our quick poll: https://pulse.ly/ouna4pi10d

Affordable, accessible, accountable. That's exactly how your healthcare should be... but is it? Election Day is in 50 days. We're asking our candidates: how will you make healthcare work for us? Because no one should have to prove their worth, fight red tape, or meet a quota to access basic care.

Public hospitals are already under growing financial pressure. Reducing public revenue could make it harder to keep essential care available. Our partners at @floridapolicy.bsky.social break down which proposed property tax changes in FL are on the ballot this November — and what's at stake.

Political volatility can make it tempting to focus on the next election, the next crisis or the next fight. But durable change requires something deeper: relationships, trust, and community infrastructure. 💡 That’s how we build power that lasts beyond any single political cycle.

Reproductive health covers a wide range of services, from birth control and abortion to pap smears and uterine fibroid treatment. And Medicaid covers them. Have you ever used Medicaid to support your reproductive or maternal health journey? We want to hear from you: https://pulse.ly/ej1zks6fxt

Sahida faced a surprise $8,000 hospital bill after her husband’s epilepsy diagnosis. She fought back — and now helps others do the same. Her story made its way to Congress. Meet Sahida and see why the movement to #VoteLikeHealth is growing as elections near: https://pulse.ly/ih5e0ohncd

Healthcare costs don’t just show up on medical bills. They show up in debt, skipped care, red tape, and impossible choices. This election, we’re asking voters to make healthcare a priority with the launch of a new campaign. Take the #VoteLikeHealth pledge: https://pulse.ly/gu7ptnffbz

2 out of 3 Black and Latino families in Massachusetts can't cover a $400 emergency expense. 33% of Black families and 40% of Hispanic families have zero or negative net wealth. Yet we handed billionaires TRILLIONS in tax breaks. And cut Medicaid, SNAP, and Pell Grants.

Of the 1,300+ hospitals in the U.S. that receive tax breaks in order to pass charity care on to their communities, 3 out of 4 are falling short of that promise. Meanwhile, 4 in 10 adults carry medical debt. It's time to hold these non-profit hospitals accountable: https://pulse.ly/qoruamd16c

When this pastor noticed medical debt was taking over his congregation, he raised funds to forgive the debt. He may call it a “Band-Aid” solution, but for this act of charity is life changing. Now, he's calling for surgical intervention on our healthcare system: communitycatalyst.org/stories/long...

We can't fund childcare. We can't keep rural hospitals open. We can't lower drug prices. But apparently, we CAN give the rich a $100 BILLION capital gains indexing tax break? Almost all of it flows to the top 1%. Pay attention.

Last call: Voting for SXSW 2027 closes on Sunday. Help bring our “Stories as Power: Advocacy in the AI & Digital Age” panel to the main stage. At a time when AI & misinfo are reshaping how people find & trust data, storytelling has never been more important. Vote here: https://pulse.ly/2tfueimiix

Tribal leadership is helping expand access to oral health care. Dental therapists, pioneered in the U.S. by Alaska Native communities, are now authorized in 14 states — advancing policies to bring care closer, make it more cost effective & improve oral health for all. Learn more: dentaltherapy.org

Maria works full-time. Has private insurance. Budgets carefully. Still — rising prescription costs meant she and her husband got shut-off notices for their power and water. No family should have to choose between the lights staying on and getting care.

Imagine having 3 insurance plans and still waiting 3 years for one coverage dispute to be resolved. That’s what Lauren faced after her daughter’s kidney transplant. Families in crisis shouldn’t have to become full-time insurance coordinators. Read Lauren's story

4 in 10 births are covered by Medicaid.🤰🏾 That makes it the largest source of funding for pregnancy-related care in the U.S. For parents like Bria, Medicaid was a "huge relief." If you or someone you know has used Medicaid for maternal care, we want to hear from you: https://pulse.ly/lwrxepkvhr

Currently 26 states + D.C. reimburse doulas via Medicaid. But as we see in VA, benefits on paper don't always translate to coverage in practice. For Black women 3-4x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes — and for 64% whose births are covered by Medicaid — access/coverage is life saving.

The Trump admin has officially blocked gender-affirming care funding for children on Medicaid and CHIP. It's “not about following the science. It’s about promoting this administration’s anti-transgender agenda,” said Ma'ayan Anafi at @nwlc.org. From me: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

We’re headed to the SXSW 2027 community vote! Vote for Community Catalyst’s panel, Stories as Power: Advocacy in the AI & Digital Age, exploring how lived experience + technology can build power and public trust. Help health justice get to the main stage: Vote by 8/23: https://pulse.ly/adevjom4wn