Ep. #97Policy Is Practice: Vaccines, Food Guidelines & Integrated Care

Hosts of the Integrated Care Podcast (CFHA)—Grace Pratt with co-hosts Bridgette Beachy, Ashley Garrison, Jen Thomas, and Monica Williams—discuss how “policy is practice and practice is policy,” emphasizing resisting all-or-nothing thinking and recognizing that change is a long game. They share personal entry points into policy engagement, including Medicaid expansion advocacy, and preview CFHA learning resources and the October 8–10, 2026 CFHA conference in St. Louis. The conversation focuses on recent federal shifts affecting clinical work, including vaccine guidance moving several childhood vaccines to shared clinical decision-making and the resulting impact on primary care conversations, trust, insurance, and schools. They also discuss updated dietary messaging, with Ashley explaining a protein-and-vegetable-forward approach, practical strategies for families, and how integrated care teams support patient-centered decisions amid misinformation and clinician strain.