Great Healthcare Plan & Threats to Food Security with Larry Levitt & Gina Plata-Nino
Thu Jan 29 2026
In part one of the episode, Tracking Transformation: Great Healthcare Plan & Threats to Food Security, Larry Levitt, Executive Vice President for Health Policy at KFF, joins host Michelle Rathman. Larry oversees KFF's policy work on Medicare, Medicaid, the health care marketplace, the Affordable Care Act, racial equity, women's health, and global health.
In this conversation, Michelle and Larry Levitt discuss the current state of health policy in America, focusing on President Trump's recent healthcare plan, affordability challenges, and implications for rural health. They explore the complexities of healthcare funding, the impact of the ACA, and the potential effects of the Rural Health Transformation Fund. The discussion highlights the need for transparency and bipartisan cooperation in addressing these pressing issues.
In the second half of this in-depth episode, Michelle speaks with Gina Plata-Nino, SNAP Director for the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). At FRAC, Gina collaborates with the SNAP team to expand the program's reach and improve its effectiveness for low-income households. She leads legislative and technical support efforts for national, state, and community organizations, as well as government agencies and nonprofits, to strengthen SNAP access, benefits, and customer service.
Michelle and Gina discuss the critical intersection of agriculture, nutrition, and policy, with a particular focus on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). They delve into the implications of recent legislative proposals that threaten to undermine SNAP, highlighting the hardships they could cause for millions of Americans, especially in rural areas. Gina emphasizes the economic ripple effects of these policies, explaining how cuts to SNAP could lead to significant losses for farmers and local economies, exacerbating food insecurity and health disparities.
The conversation also addresses the broader implications of federal disinvestment in rural communities, including the strain on state budgets and the potential for increased poverty and food deserts. Gina articulates the urgent need for policy changes that prioritize access to healthy food and support for local economies. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to engage with their legislators to advocate for better SNAP policies that ensure food security and health equity for all communities.
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Show Resources:
https://frac.org/actionhttps://www.kff.org/
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In part one of the episode, Tracking Transformation: Great Healthcare Plan & Threats to Food Security, Larry Levitt, Executive Vice President for Health Policy at KFF, joins host Michelle Rathman. Larry oversees KFF's policy work on Medicare, Medicaid, the health care marketplace, the Affordable Care Act, racial equity, women's health, and global health. In this conversation, Michelle and Larry Levitt discuss the current state of health policy in America, focusing on President Trump's recent healthcare plan, affordability challenges, and implications for rural health. They explore the complexities of healthcare funding, the impact of the ACA, and the potential effects of the Rural Health Transformation Fund. The discussion highlights the need for transparency and bipartisan cooperation in addressing these pressing issues. In the second half of this in-depth episode, Michelle speaks with Gina Plata-Nino, SNAP Director for the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). At FRAC, Gina collaborates with the SNAP team to expand the program's reach and improve its effectiveness for low-income households. She leads legislative and technical support efforts for national, state, and community organizations, as well as government agencies and nonprofits, to strengthen SNAP access, benefits, and customer service. Michelle and Gina discuss the critical intersection of agriculture, nutrition, and policy, with a particular focus on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). They delve into the implications of recent legislative proposals that threaten to undermine SNAP, highlighting the hardships they could cause for millions of Americans, especially in rural areas. Gina emphasizes the economic ripple effects of these policies, explaining how cuts to SNAP could lead to significant losses for farmers and local economies, exacerbating food insecurity and health disparities. The conversation also addresses the broader implications of federal disinvestment in rural communities, including the strain on state budgets and the potential for increased poverty and food deserts. Gina articulates the urgent need for policy changes that prioritize access to healthy food and support for local economies. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to engage with their legislators to advocate for better SNAP policies that ensure food security and health equity for all communities. Rural Impact Merchandise Has Arrived! Visit our Store and Order Your Gear Show Resources: https://frac.org/actionhttps://www.kff.org/