While Washington argues and Wall Street profits, a quiet transformation is reshaping healthcare: one community at a time.
Relocalizing Health takes you inside this movement with Dave Chase, founder of Health Rosetta, as he talks with the people leading healthcare's ground-up transformation. Their approach? Keep care local, rebuild trust, and redirect healthcare wasted spending into something that actually serves people.
You'll hear real-world stories from employers, clinicians, and civic leaders who are designing health plans and ecosystems that work, and strengthening their local economies in the process.
Featured guests include:
- Public sector leaders who've redesigned employee health benefits to free up millions for essential services.
- Physicians who've left corporate systems to practice relationship-based care.
- Manufacturing executives using healthcare as a competitive advantage - not a cost burden.
- Civic leaders helping communities reclaim control of their healthcare destiny.
If you care about your community's future and want to see what's actually working in healthcare transformation, this show offers a clear-eyed look at proven models and how to implement them.
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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
From Crisis to Reform: Marilyn Bartlett and Chris Deacon’s Proven Playbook for Lowering Healthcare Costs
Season 1 · Episode 3
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 • Duration 33:41
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
Breaking Down Healthcare’s Structural Flaws and Realigning Incentives for Better Outcomes
Season 1 · Episode 4
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 • Duration 01:02:11
Welcome to another episode of Relocalizing Health! In today’s conversation, host Dave Chase sits down with Dr. Eric Bricker, a renowned internal medicine physician, board member for a leading direct primary care organization, and the mastermind behind those wildly popular whiteboard healthcare explainers online.
Together, Dave and Dr. Bricker dive into the heart of America’s healthcare challenges: from deeply misaligned financial incentives to the separation of health and social care funding streams. You’ll hear candid stories and sharp insights from Dr. Bricker’s career working with millions across the country, and learn why fixing payment models could be the key to unlocking better primary care.
The episode also unpacks the crucial role of local leadership, using real-world examples like the transformation in McAllen, Texas, and how direct primary care models are gaining traction among public employers. Dr. Bricker doesn’t just cut through the theoretical; he brings a dash of humor, some tough truths about medical training and system inertia, and inspiration for anyone striving to build healthier communities.
Whether you're a health plan wonk, a city leader, or just itching to see change, this episode will leave you with a fresh perspective and a few memorable quotes. Tune in to hear why, when it comes to transforming health systems, enthusiasm, persistence, and community leadership matter just as much as bright ideas.
Timestamps:
00:00 "Navigating U.S. Healthcare Insights"
07:53 "Fixing U.S. Healthcare Flaws"
12:59 Healthcare Politics and Resource Allocation
18:27 Doctors Face Unexpected Social Work
25:26 Primary Care Requires More Time
31:04 Social Isolation to Social Prescription
33:55 Scaling Direct Primary Care Practices
42:11 "Influential Historians: The Durants"
Restoring Humanity to Healthcare with Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle: Rebuilding Primary Care from the Ground Up
Season 1 · Episode 6
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 • Duration 45:52
Welcome back to Relocalizing Health, the podcast uncovering how communities can take back healthcare from profit-driven systems and put people first. In today’s episode, host Dave Chase sits down with Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle, co-founder of Iora Health and current co-founder of Liza Health, to discuss the next frontier in primary care innovation. With heartfelt stories from the frontlines, Dr. Fernandopulle exposes the perils of fragmented, transactional medicine, where patients are overwhelmed with prescriptions and disconnected from real human care. Together, they explore how redesigning primary care - focused on relationships, not transactions - can restore the American dream for everyday people, improve outcomes, and even lower costs.
Dr. Fernandopulle shares how Iora Health’s pioneering model brought humanity back to healthcare, using health coaches, technology, and a payment approach that actually rewards better health. You’ll hear compelling examples, from helping a socially isolated patient navigate her city to slashing unnecessary medications for complex patients that highlight just how transformative relationship-based care can be.
Tune in for a compelling conversation on the power of independent primary care, the role of technology (including AI), and how communities can push for the changes needed to make healthcare work for everyone. Whether you’re a clinician, an employer, or invested in your local healthcare system, this episode is packed with actionable insights and hope for a better future in healthcare.
Timestamps:
00:00 Exceptional Family-Centric Healthcare Model
05:23 "Meds Roulette: A Risky Routine"
09:43 Patient Accountability Partnership Model
12:33 Seniors' Isolation Addressed by Community Care
16:20 Building Iora Health: Custom EHR Development
19:00 Specialists Outnumber Primary Doctors in the US
23:07 Rethinking Healthcare Systems
AI and the Future of Healthcare: Balancing Technology with Human Connection
Season 1 · Episode 5
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 • Duration 30:16
Welcome back to another episode of Relocalizing Health! Today, host Dave Chase dives deep into the opportunities and challenges AI brings to healthcare, joined by digital health pioneer Dr. Jay Parkinson. Together, they explore a future where technology and community-driven care intersect, asking the big questions about how AI can support, rather than replace, the vital human relationships at the core of medicine.
Jay shares stories from his unique journey, from being one of the first iPhone-enabled physicians making house calls, to innovating virtual primary care with Sherpa, and now leading Automate Clinic, where he’s working to train AI models to think more like doctors. As they sift through possibilities and pitfalls, Dave and Jay unpack what truly makes care excellent, which elements must remain human, and how AI might transform both the daily experiences of clinicians and the health journeys of patients.
They also tackle AI’s role in addressing the broader determinants of health, beyond pills and procedures, into the realms of social connection and community resources. With insights for both clinicians embracing change and everyday people eager to understand what’s ahead, this episode is a candid, forward-thinking look at the evolution of healthcare.
So, whether you’re a healthcare professional, policymaker, or simply curious about the future of medicine, this conversation is designed to spark curiosity, challenge assumptions, and inspire the kind of creative thinking that just might change the system for the better. Let’s get started.
Timestamps:
00:00 "Transforming Healthcare with Technology"
04:21 Revolutionizing Telehealth: Consistent Doctor Access
07:12 Optimizing Healthcare with AI
11:13 AI in Holistic Healthcare Solutions
13:23 Health vs. Medical: A Future Perspective
18:56 AI Enhancing Health Conversations
20:55 Rising Risk in Healthcare Analytics
Beyond Healthcare Costs: Shifting from Repair to Maintenance in Our Communities
Season 1 · Episode 7
Thursday, August 7, 2025 • Duration 34:41
Welcome to Relocalizing Health, the podcast where we dive into how local communities can reclaim their healthcare dollars and shape healthier, more vibrant futures. In this episode, host Dave Chase sits down with the ever-insightful Esther Dyson - investor, writer, and founder of the 10-year Wellville project, for a deep conversation about what it really takes to create lasting health at the community level.
Kicking things off, Esther challenges us with a provocative comparison: we do a better job maintaining our cars than our own bodies. She and Dave explore why the true challenge in healthcare isn’t just about lowering costs, but making healthcare itself less necessary through prevention and social connection.
Esther shares the inside story of Wellville, reflecting on lessons learned from working far beyond the “tech fix” mindset and instead focusing on trust, social fabric, and local leadership. They discuss the importance of making “new mistakes,” the pitfalls of short-term thinking in both healthcare and corporate America, and how employers can - and do - become powerful agents for community well-being.
Together, Esther and Dave dig into everything from the power of data and the need for long-term investment, to the complicated dance between local action and national systems. Listen in for practical wisdom, hard-earned insights, and a dose of optimism about ways we can rebuild a healthier society from the ground up.
Timestamps:
00:00 "Reclaiming Healthcare Dollars Locally"
06:10 "Health X Prize Proposal"
09:32 Building Trust: A Decade's Insight
11:47 Collaborative Catalyst Metaphor
14:37 Preventive Healthcare Innovation
17:22 "Short-Term Focus Hurts Healthcare"
21:07 Transforming Community Through Health Initiatives
23:48 "Restoring Humanity in a Gig Economy"
28:55 Employer Healthcare Data Challenges
How Ashtabula County Reclaimed Healthcare: Direct Care and Community Plans Beat Corporate Systems
Season 1 · Episode 8
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 • Duration 58:19
Welcome to another episode of Relocalizing Health, the show where we explore inspiring stories of communities reclaiming healthcare and reshaping the system to serve people, not profit. In today’s episode, host Dave Chase takes us to Ashtabula County, Ohio, a region that transformed itself from a “medical desert” into a beacon of hope for what healthcare can look like when it’s community-powered and people-centered.
You’ll hear from three courageous local healthcare leaders: Dr. Brad Schneider, a primary care physician who broke out of the hospital “hamster wheel” to offer direct primary care; Maria Fowler, owner of one of the last independent pharmacies in town, standing strong against corporate chains and unfair pharmacy benefit managers; and Casey Billington, a nurse who helped co-found a revolutionary nurse navigation service that ensures every call is met with a real human; no AI, no runaround.
Together, they reveal the staggering ways in which their community-owned health plan is not only saving millions of dollars for local schools and governments, but also restoring compassion and genuine relationships in care. Through their candid stories, you’ll get a front-row seat to the “mafia-like” challenges of the current system, the heartbreak of patients forced to fundraise for life-saving treatments, and the joy of finally making the system work for the people it’s supposed to serve.
If you’re a civic leader, clinician, or anyone hungry for proof that healthcare can be both better and more affordable, this episode is packed with hope, practical strategies, and a vision of a future where community truly comes first. Let’s dive in!
Timestamps:
00:00 Relocalizing Health: Community Care Revolution
05:45 Rising Patient Load Challenges Doctor
08:01 Burnout as a Family Doctor
11:34 Challenges in Primary Care Access
14:04 Pharmacy System Challenges and Closures
20:10 Barriers to Healthcare Access
How Community-Owned Health Plans Are Transforming Healthcare and Boosting Local Economies
Season 1 · Episode 9
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 • Duration 50:59
Welcome back to Relocalizing Health, the podcast where we delve into how communities across America are taking back control of their healthcare from corporate interests and transforming it into a force for genuine wellbeing and economic vitality. I’m your host, Dave Chase.
In today’s episode, we bring you a truly inspiring story of healthcare transformation, not spearheaded by a hospital exec, a government official, or a tech disruptor, but by an independent benefits advisor from Ohio who decided enough was enough. Bryce Heinbaugh joins us to share his journey, which began with a professional crisis of conscience after realizing how much money was being siphoned out of his community by a broken healthcare system.
Bryce opens up about his pivotal moment at a Health Rosetta conference, the challenges of being a change agent, and how he helped move Ashtabula City Schools from the brink of financial crisis to building a $7 million healthcare reserve. We’ll explore the practical steps he took to rebuild the local healthcare ecosystem, from partnering with direct primary care physicians and community pharmacists, to negotiating direct contracts with high-quality providers, even in a so-called “medical desert.”
Alongside Bryce, we’ll dig into the blueprint that empowered not just schools, but also local governments and private employers, to save millions while improving care for their people. We’ll discuss the national implications of this approach, the predictable pushback from entrenched interests, and why fostering local collaboration among advisors, clinicians, and civic leaders is crucial for lasting change.
If you’ve ever wondered how healthcare could become an economic engine rather than a drain, or what it takes to shift from Wall Street-driven models to community-owned health plans, this is the episode for you. Stick around for actionable insights, hard-earned wisdom, and a hopeful look at what’s possible when communities work together to reclaim their healthcare destiny.
Timestamps:
00:00 "Revolutionizing U.S. Healthcare Costs"
04:52 Epiphany of a Benefits Broker
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