Prevention and Public Health Fund at Risk

By Bob Stolarick and Cindy Zeldin

The Affordable Care Act includes a major new investment in prevention and public health:  The Prevention and Public Health Fund is designated for use in communities across the country to target key public health issues such as tobacco cessation and efforts to reduce obesity by encouraging better nutrition and increased physical activity. The funding will also be used to strengthen state and local public health infrastructure, support data collection and analysis for community-based and clinical-based prevention activities and to expand and improve training for the public health workforce. Here in Georgia, these funds will be critical to strengthen our public health system.


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Battle for Smoke-free Savannah Heats Up

By June Deen
American Lung Association in Georgia


Under the umbrella of Healthy Savannah, several organizations including the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids are leading the charge to enact a local smoke-free ordinance in Savannah.  The Savannah City Council has begun public discussion on the Healthy Savannah proposal to make all workplaces and places open to the public smoke-free.  Council members plan two public meetings before the introduction and first reading on August 12.

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A Healthy Override

By Timothy Sweeney
Senior Healthcare Analyst for the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute


Word comes today that the South Carolina Legislature has overridden a gubernatorial veto of a 50-cent increase in the state’s tobacco tax.


The Republican-controlled House and Senate found the two-thirds vote needed to pass the override, bringing South Carolina’s tax to 57-cents per pack and pushing Georgia’s 37-cent tax farther down in rankings – now 4th lowest tobacco tax in the nation and the lowest of any of our surrounding states. Even a state that prides itself on low taxes shouldn’t be proud of this ranking.

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More than 1.6 million Georgians are uninsured.Source: Georgia Health Policy Center
Health insurance premiums grew 6.4x faster than earnings over the past decade.Source: Families USA
Georgia’s infant mortality rate is among the worst in the nation.Source: KidsCount
Georgia ranks in the bottom quartile of states on overall quality.Source: New American Foundation
More than 1 million Georgians don't see a doctor due to the cost.Source: BRFSS data
Millions of Georgians are at least two hours away from trauma care.Source: GA Statewide Trauma Action Team

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Phone: 404-567-5016
Fax: 404-935-9885
E-Mail: info@healthyfuturega.org

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