Peach Pulse Archive 2016
CLOSING THE COVERAGE GAP UPDATE
It’s been an exciting month for Close the Gap advocates!
We are pleased to see that several of Georgia’s leaders have expressed to the press that they are willing to take a second look at closing Georgia’s coverage gap. We hope to work with our state leaders in the coming months to build further support and to find a solution that works for all Georgians. Below you’ll find a few links to articles covering the conversation happening at the Gold Dome.
Louisiana’s expanding Medicaid, Georgia should too
Flagpole | June 22
Task force aims to reshape Georgia stance on health coverage
Georgia Health News | June 21
Why a Ga. GOP chair wants to ‘re-examine’ Medicaid expansion
WABE June 15
KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING
1,000 names is a strong showing – but we need more!
Share the above infographic with a message encouraging your social network to add their names! You can find the petition here.
DON’T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS!
A Conversation with Author Mike King
July 19 6:30 – 8:30 PM
The Warren City Club
Health care advocates and friends – please join us for a book signing and conversation with Atlanta journalist Mike King, author of A Spirt of Charity: Restoring the Bond Between America and its Public Hospitals. His new book explores the role of public hospitals in our health system, weaving Georgia’s history – and the history of Grady – into this national story. In advance of the event, our executive director, Cindy Zeldin sat down with King to talk about his book. Read their conversation here.
We will provide appetizers and there will be a cash bar. This is a free event. RSVP here.
Getting Georgia Covered: How Consumer and Assister Experiences can Increase Enrollment and Inform Policy
August 16 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Sloppy Floyd Building
Please join us for our second annual enrollment summit. This year we are focusing on strengthening relationships between the health policy community and the enrollment assistance community. The summit will include speakers from the Georgetown Center for Health Insurance Reforms, Families USA, and Region IV HHS. Learn more about the agenda and RSVP here.
2016 Consumer Health Impact Awards
September 28 6:30 PM
Park Tavern
Tickets are now on sale for the 2016 Consumer Health Impact Awards! Three awards recipients have so far been revealed; join us in congratulating them!
- Community Impact Award – Carole Maddux, Executive Director, CEO of the Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center
- Powerhouse Policymaker – Senator P.K. Martin
- Powerhouse Policymaker – House Minority Leader, Representative Stacey Abrams
Only July 11th we’ll be revealing the recipient of the Linda Smith Lowe Health Advocate Award, so make sure you’re following us on Facebook and Twitter! You can preview some of the silent auction items here and RSVP here.
OUT AND ABOUT WITH GHF
Keeping up the Drumbeat for Youth Substance Use Prevention
This June, we joined advocates from other states in Philadelphia for the Community Catalyst Substance Use Disorders Advocacy Convening. The three-day conference gave us valuable insight for the next phase of our advocacy and policy efforts to expand the use of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) through the activation of Medicaid codes for youth. Activating Medicaid codes would allow providers to be reimbursed for the time they spend conducting SBIRT and would encourage greater use of the tool. Read more about this project and the convening here.
Peachtree Corners Festival
Georgia’s many summer festivals provide a unique opportunity for GHF and our partners to get out in the community and talk with people about how health policy impacts their lives and how they can be advocates. On June 11th and 12th, we continued our summer festival outreach with an information and education booth at the Peachtree Corners Festival. Read more about the festival and our conversations with people in the coverage gap here.
Women’s Day at Ebenezer Baptist Church
Ebenezer Baptist Church is a cornerstone of advocacy and social justice in Atlanta. On June 20th, Laura Cobert, Director of Outreach & Partnerships, was invited to join their Women’s Season celebrations to talk about the importance fo closing Georgia’s coverage gap. She spoke to a crowd fo about 60 women on a day when the theme was health and self-care. To read more about the event and Laura’s presentation, click here.
IN THE NEWS
Task force aims to reshape Georgia stance on health coverage
Georgia Health News| June 21