Government & Public Affairs
Inspired by our belief that health is a human right, we partner with lawmakers at the federal level and across our seven-state footprint on policies that will improve the health and well-being of those we serve. Our advocacy is grounded in our Mission which compels us to reach beyond the walls of hospitals and care facilities to work with local, state, and national partners to advance policies designed to better serve vulnerable populations and promote justice in our communities. We also partner to promote practices and infrastructure that will sustain the planet for future generations and transform our communities for a healthier, more equitable world.
Inspired by our belief that health is a human right, our family of organizations is ready to partner with lawmakers on policies that will improve the health and well-being of those we serve.
Download a copy of our 2025-2026 Advocacy Agenda
- Sustain Medicare and Medicaid: Protect health care coverage and support reimbursement rates that appropriately reflect the cost of delivering care, especially for vulnerable populations.
- Reduce medication costs: Increase pharmaceutical pricing transparency and protect the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which provides access to life-changing medications for low-income patients.
- Increase care accessibility: Promote care delivery innovation, including maintaining telehealth flexibilities and hospital-at-home programs.
- Protect the ability of nonprofit health care to care for all: Preserve tax-exempt status to support community needs and promote sustainable financial assistance programs.
- Promote collaboration and accountability with insurers: Increase partnerships between payers and providers to strengthen value-based care and lessen the burden on patients.
- Ensure sustainable health care cost growth: Ensure reasonable cost growth targets don’t penalize providers for costs outside our control, like labor and pharmaceutical costs.
- Preserve rural health care: Enhance funding to protect rural clinics and prevent hospital closures.
- Grow the physician and provider workforce: Increase funding for scholarships, loan forgiveness and residency training programs.
- Expand the nursing and caregiver pipeline: Support recruitment, retention and advanced education for nurses and other allied health professionals.
- Reform the physician payment system: Support reimbursement rates that reflect the increased cost of delivering high-quality care.
- Reduce administrative burden: Remove barriers to licensure for health care workers and reduce the unnecessary prior authorization and coverage denials to help address burnout and support caregivers at the bedside.
- Eliminate violence against caregivers: Support continued health care workplace safety and fund support programs to keep caregivers safe.
- Improve hospital capacity: Develop solutions to reduce unnecessary lengths of stay and ensure patients receive care in the appropriate settings, including improving access to post-acute care services.
- Increase access to behavioral health services: Improve access along the continuum of care, including treatment for patients in crisis, community-based services, and preventative services.
- Advance health IT: Protect health systems from cybersecurity threats and promote appropriate regulation of AI in health care to allow for innovation.
- Improve coordination of care: Bolster palliative care and long-term services, including the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
- Advance health equity: Support policies that seek to address inequities in health care delivery, especially for underserved populations, including immigrants.
- Address social determinants of health: Improve access to housing, transportation, healthy food, education, and employment.
- Improve stewardship of our environment: Increase funding and support policies to decarbonize the health care sector and address environmental justice and climate resiliency.
The Providence family of organizations has always participated fully in our communities as care providers and advocates for those in need—and this work is especially important during an election year. We believe that every Providence caregiver should have a say in the democratic process to create health for a better world.
Vote for Health is a voluntary educational and civic participation campaign to help mobilize voters and connect them to voting information and resources in their states ahead of federal elections, as well as many important state and local elections. In keeping with IRS rules and our own policies, Vote for Health will not include any information on or endorsements of candidate campaigns or political parties.
Elections play an important role in addressing social determinants of health that influence the wellbeing of everyone in our communities, especially vulnerable and marginalized populations. Issues such as food and housing security; access to affordable care; environmental health; and availability of technology such as telehealth can all contribute to our vision of Health for a Better World.
The Vote for Health website eases your way in becoming a participant in the process. You’ll find information on where to cast your ballot; resources to register to vote or check your voter registration status; and other helpful tools and resources.
The Vote for Health website is a quick and easy way to get registered to vote or check that your registration is up to date. Whether you vote by mail, vote early, or vote at a polling station, a current and accurate voter registration is the first step toward making a difference in your local community.
When you choose your state on the website, you’ll also see information on important health care issues where you live. In some states, you’ll also find details on ballot measures and other initiatives and proposals that will be up for a vote.
Don't let others decide what happens in your state. Use your vote to be an agent for social change. Help ensure the future of health is inclusive, just and fair for all.
The Vote for Health campaign is intended to be an educational resource to promote civic engagement. As a family of tax-exempt organizations, Providence does not endorse or support candidates for office.
Guided by our Mission and values, Providence believes that health is a human right. Ensuring that we are able to care for all, especially the poor and vulnerable, requires protecting the vital programs that provide health coverage to these populations.
Medicaid provides vital coverage for:
- Pregnant women
- Children and newborns
- Seniors, especially those in nursing homes
- People with disabilities
- Low-income individuals
Providence serves the largest share of Medicaid patients in almost all our markets and is proud to 1.2 million Medicaid patients across Providence’s seven state footprint every year.
Learn more about Medicaid in your state, hear from real patients who have benefited from coverage, and take action to protect this essential health program: Meet The Many Faces of Medicaid.
Together, our team leads all advocacy on behalf of our seven-state family of organizations. We partner with lawmakers at the federal, state, and local levels on policies that promote the health and wellbeing of those we serve, with a specific focus on policies that serve the poor and vulnerable.
- Ali Santore, Chief Communications & External Affairs Officer
- Jacquelyn Bombard, Chief Federal Government Affairs Officer
- Kristen Downey, Chief State Government Affairs Officer, Central Division (Eastern Washington, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, & Texas)
- Lauren Platt-McDonald, Chief State Government Affairs & Community Health Investment Officer, North Division (Alaska & Western Washington)
- Rachel Selleck, Chief State Government Affairs Officer, South Division (California)