Welcome to another episode of Relocalizing Health, where we dive into the critical and often complicated world of healthcare reform at the local and state level. In this episode, host Dave Chase sits down with two trailblazing leaders in public sector health: Marilyn Bartlett, renowned for her transformative work on Montana’s state health plan and a member of Fortune’s 50 World Greatest Leaders, and Chris Deacon, an experienced former Deputy Attorney General of New Jersey with firsthand knowledge of negotiating healthcare on behalf of state employees.

Together, they unpack the real-life impact of skyrocketing healthcare costs on state budgets, infrastructure, and, most importantly, the everyday lives of public employees. The conversation moves beyond numbers, exploring how unions became unexpected allies in the fight for health plan reform- and why educating and engaging stakeholders is the cornerstone of lasting change. From the power of transparent data to the importance of local advocacy and creative legislative wins, Marilyn and Chris share practical, actionable lessons for mayors, school boards, and anyone interested in bending the cost curve without cutting benefits.

Tune in as we shine a light on how shifting the status quo can restore trust, save millions, and lead to better care for all - plus, get a preview of their hands-on workshops at Rosetta Fest, where they’ll pull back the curtain on hospital finances, contract red flags, and more. If you care about healthier communities and smarter spending, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 Genius Thrives in Adversity

03:50 State Employee Health Plan Challenges

08:46 Economic Development 3.0 Podcast Insights

10:55 Unified Approach to Health Benefits

14:21 Effective Data Use in Decision-Making

18:55 Federal Health Policy Movement Signals

22:18 Montana Pharmacists' Legislative Victory

23:25 Surprise Policy Gains for Advocates

29:14 Touching Union Meeting Reflections

30:41 Praising Marilyn and Chris's Impact

33:04 Grateful for Fun Contract Work

Learn More:

RosettaFest 2025 - https://rosettafest.org/

Health Rosetta - http://healthrosetta.org/

Nautilus - https://www.nautilushealth.org/

Kynexions - https://kynexions.com/

Dave Chase - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedave/

Podcast Website - https://relocalizinghealth.com/

Welcome to Relocalizing Health, where we dig into the powerful connection between healthcare and community prosperity. In this episode, host Dave Chase explores a hidden economic struggle affecting towns across America, one where healthcare dollars can either drain local economies or become the engine that revitalizes them. Dave shares compelling stories, like how a reimagined approach to healthcare in Tangelo Park, Florida, helped fund college for every child and reduced crime dramatically, while unchecked hospital expansion elsewhere continues to burden families for generations.

This episode shines a light on why traditional strategies to attract jobs may be less effective than transforming local healthcare ecosystems, highlighting real-life examples from Ohio to Alabama where communities have redirected wasted healthcare spending into scholarships, community programs, and job growth. Through cooperatives, innovative employers, and local leadership, Dave reveals a playbook for reclaiming healthcare dollars and harnessing them to rebuild the social and economic fabric of our communities.

Whether you’re an employer, teacher, community leader, or local advocate, Dave empowers you with ideas and tools to help your community thrive, reminding us all that the future of healthcare and local prosperity is in our hands. Join us as we explore real solutions already working across the country, and find out how you can be part of this growing movement to relocalize health.

Timestamps:

00:00 Healthcare Drains Local Economies

05:11 Rethinking Hospital-Centric Economic Development

09:47 "Community Focus in Transparent Healthcare"

13:03 Community Wealth Through Cooperatives

14:48 Localizing Healthcare for Economic Growth

15:44 Rosetta Fest

Learn More:

RosettaFest 2025 - https://rosettafest.org/

Health Rosetta - http://healthrosetta.org/

Nautilus - https://www.nautilushealth.org/

Kynexions - https://kynexions.com/

Dave Chase - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedave/

Podcast Website - https://relocalizinghealth.com/

Relocalizing Health with Dave Chase - Episode 1 - Coming Soon!

Learn More:

RosettaFest 2025 - https://rosettafest.org/

Health Rosetta - http://healthrosetta.org/

Nautilus - https://www.nautilushealth.org/

Kynexions - https://kynexions.com/

Dave Chase - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedave/

Podcast Website - https://relocalizinghealth.com/