Hoosier Health MattersSeason 1, Episode 29 Date: 11/14/2025 Title: Indiana Freezes Childcare Vouchers, Legislators Target Mifepristone, and Why Syringe Exchange Matters00:00- Intro2:15- we will not have an episode the week of Thanksgiving- will drop the week after (December 5)2:28- Special Session to start November 18, end before December 12 and it will be a part of the 2026 session5:09- Indiana freezing childcare vouchers until 2027- leaving 31,000 families on a wait list7:15- Letter to the White House from 55 Indiana legislators calling on a review of the safety of mifepristone is ideological hand-waving dressed up as a scientific question11:00- The federal shutdown furloughed 50 Indiana Department of Health workers 12:25- SNAP legal drama was dramatic16:13- Interview with Alan Wichey, CEO of Damien Center, and Dr. Shane Avery, a physician from Scott County who was involved in the 2015 HIV outbreak- we talk to them about syringe exchange programs (you can get more info and help pass the law to allow Indiana to continue syringe exchange programs at www.protectsep.org)39:58- Little things- look at the Mifepristone letter and if your senator or rep signed it, call them and let them know your thoughts. And call your state senator and representative and let them know your thoughts on the re-gerrymander attempt.40:44- Wrap upThanks for listening!Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
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Indiana’s Medical Debt Shrug, SNAP Shutdown, and all you could want to know about FQHCs
Hoosier Health MattersSeason 1, Episode 28 Date: 10/31/2025 Title: Indiana’s Medical Debt Shrug, SNAP Shutdown, and all you could want to know about FQHCs00:00- Intro3:05- They are going to try and re-gerrymander Indiana. Which is good for no one4:50- The interim study committee on medical debt in Indiana released a report that said it was issuing no recommendations, despite the fact that 20% of Hoosiers have been reported to collections for medical debt7:06- The first flu death was confirmed in Indiana this week. Get your flu vaccine. And check out the Indiana Influenza dashboard- it is cool8:10- The federal shutdown continues; and SNAP funding has been cut off as of today. This is a huge deal9:45- The New England Journal and CIDRAP is going to publish an alternative to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, because it is now unreliable11:20- Interview with Staci Walters about what federally qualified health centers are and why they are an important aspect of public health in Indiana23:38- Little things- call your legislator to oppose re-gerrymandering24:30- Wrap upThanks for listening!Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
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Why we stay in Indiana and why the government shutdown over public health is important
Hoosier Health Matters Season 1, Episode 27 Date: 10/17/2025 Title: Why we stay in Indiana and why the government shutdown over public health is important00:00- Intro1:37- CDC director uses his best vibes to call for the separation of the MMR vaccine into three separate shots2:19- CDC ACIP recommendations adopted, and they quietly walked back the "only risk factors under 60" recommendation to recommend it with shared decision-making3:13- New study shows that, even in the last winter season, COVID vaccination was massively protective against hospitalizations and death4:15- CDC lays off 1400 employees, immediately rehires half, administrative malfeasance continues5:50- 6 former surgeons general call for the resignation of RFK, Jr. A big deal.6:52- The federal shutdown is about public health and pulling back the ACA subsidies is bad for all Americans9:36- Gabe and Tracey talk to Dr. Veronica Santana-Ufret about why they stay in Indiana. Gabe mentions the book Hoosiers: A new history of Indiana (and this link is to a local bookstore!)29:50- Call your legislators to oppose redistricting, fill out this form, and we will send you Good Trouble swag31:00- Wrap up Thanks for listening!Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
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Tylenol, Leucovorin, and Mifepristone—When “science” serves politics, not patients
Hoosier Health Matters Season 1, Episode 26 Date: 10/3/2025 Title: Tylenol, Leucovorin, and Mifepristone—When “Science” Serves Politics, Not Patients00:00- Intro02:00- A school board north of Fort Wayne removes 6 books from the shelves, based on a gross misinterpretation of a sex ed law passed last year (SEA 442)04:36- USDA no longer publishing gold standard food insecurity reports- we debunk the reasons why with the help of Katelyn Jenelina's Your Local Epidemiologist blog (a good one!)08:24- Mifepristone safety being studied by FDA despite TONS of data that it is VERY safe- this will lead nowhere good (scientific malpractice episode 1)10:57- HHS announces the "cause" and a "cure" for autism- and a discussion of correlation v causation, which is not that difficult to understand but apparently many don't understand it14:45- Correlation v causation- Red wine causes you to live longer- oh wait, no it doesn't (it's just correlated with a longer life)21:50- reaction to the press conference swift [AAP, SMFM, ACOG, SDP (which has a terrific public facing statement on this issue)]22:20- Leucovorin as a treatment for autism and the peril of using small trials to make large claims (using vitamin C in septic shock as an example)27:11- One little thing today- Tracey calls the Speaker of the House (and a script and phone numbers here for you to call)29:17- Wrap upThanks for listening!Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
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Is gerrymandering a public health issue? (hint: yes) and a family facing cuts to medicaid waivers
Hoosier Health Matters Season 1, Episode 25 Date: 9/19/2025 Title: Is gerrymandering a public health issue? (hint: yes) and a family facing cuts to medicaid waiversIn this episode of Hoosier Health Matters, hosts Gabriel Bosslet and Tracey Wilkinson discuss continued chaos at the CDC (evergreen topic). They then talk about the partisan effort to gerrymander and why it is a public health issue. They then interview Debby Holcombe, the mother of Michael who is on a home ventilator, about the medicaid waiver system, how it has helped her family and her son, and proposed changes that put that help in peril.00:00- Intro01:18- The state of Indiana has cut low income childcare voucher reimbursement rates, and many child care centers are closing as a result03:48- ACIP madness continues, as the committee meets (today!) and is voting on a lot of vaccines stuff, including COVID; but health insurers have said they are going to ignore what they say07:00- IDSA, ACP, and AAFP have called for RKF, Jr's removal as HHS secretary09:14- A primer on redistricting in the shadow of a threatened (likely unconstitutional) mid-decade gerrymander; is it a public health issue? Gabe and Tracey say yes14:29- Attendant care services medicaid waiver program and how it affects one family- an interview with Debby Holcombe and about her experience with the medicaid waiver program and proposed changes that threaten families with disabled members34:16- Little things- contact your state senator and representative, and State Senate majority leader Rod Bray and House Speaker Todd Huston and give them thoughts on the threatened gerrymander35:23- Wrap upThanks for listening!Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
Hoosier Health Matters focuses on the pressing health policy issues in Indiana and tries to make this stuff not boring. Hosted by Gabriel Bosslet and Tracey Wilkinson, board members of the Good Trouble Coalition, this podcast brings together healthcare and public health stakeholders to discuss, educate, and advocate for patient-centered care, public health, and health equity. It will focus on state-level health policies, legislative updates, and expert interviews.
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