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Having access to transportation is crucial to having access to health care. Each year millions of Americans miss or delay health care because they do not have a way to get there.

Medicaid’s non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) program helps bridge the gap between home and the doctor’s office for individuals who are covered by Medicaid. In 2018, 396,000 Georgians got to their health visits using the free NEMT benefit.

In partnership with The Arc Georgia and the Georgians in the Driver’s Seat initiative, Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF) staff have spoken with consumers around the state about their transportation needs and the NEMT program.

Legislative update: Sine Die

Thank you for your continued readership and support during the 2021 legislative session! The GHF team is proud to deliver timely, accurate updates to you on health care happenings at the Capitol. We hope that they have helped you stay informed and connected. If you have enjoyed reading each week’s edition, please consider supporting our work with a donation today. Thank you very much!

In this week’s update:

• Our priorities: “Express lane” Medicaid, telehealth, and prior authorization
• Status update: Which bills continue to the Governor’s desk and which ones were left behind
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

Legislative update: Sine Die

Thank you for your continued readership and support during the 2021 legislative session! The GHF team is proud to deliver timely, accurate updates to you on health care happenings at the Capitol. We hope that they have helped you stay informed and connected. If you have enjoyed reading each week’s edition, please consider supporting our work with a donation today. Thank you very much!

In this week’s update:

• Our priorities: “Express lane” Medicaid, telehealth, and prior authorization
• Status update: Which bills continue to the Governor’s desk and which ones were left behind
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

Adapted from the Georgia Department of Public Health Non-Medical Newsletter

As COVID-19 vaccinations continue throughout the United States, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is equipping you with the latest facts and updates. 

Legislative update: Week 11

The GHF team prides itself on delivering timely and accurate updates to you on health care happenings at the Capitol. We hope that you enjoy reading our weekly legislative updates and that they help you stay informed and connected. If you enjoy them, please consider supporting our work with a donation today. Thank you for your continued support!

In this week’s update:

• Changes to prior authorization bill
• Bills that still need final action
• Updates to Georgia’s FY22 budget
• Vaccine eligibility opens to all Georgians, ages 16+
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

2021 legislative session ends this week

Georgia’s 2021 legislative session is set to wrap up this week. The final two days of the session take place on today, March 29th and Wednesday, March 31st, also called “Sine Die”. Sine Die marks the 40th and final legislative day for the year and means “no future date set”.

Our next legislative update will include a summary of the more notable bills taken up this session. You can find a full list of health care related legislation at GHF’s legislative tracker.

Legislative update: Week 10

We are dismayed and saddened over the acts of racism and violence that took place in Atlanta last week. We stand in solidarity with Georgia’s Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in this difficult time. If you are in a position to help, we hope that you will donate, volunteer, or otherwise support our partner organizations who are focused on dealing with the aftermath of this tragedy. You can take action here:

• Sign on to a collective community statement in response to the violence
• Donate to support the victims and their families
• Support local organizations like the Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc. (CPACS), who are delivering mental health, translation, and other necessary services to the victims and their families, and the larger AAPI community.

In this week’s update:

• Action alerts: Tell your legislators to take action on hospital & nursing home visitation & patient rights & out of network patient protections!
• What happened last week: Tobacco & vaping, telehealth, vaccine administration, & more
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

Legislative update: Week 9

The GHF team prides itself on delivering timely and accurate updates to you on health care happenings at the Capitol. We hope that you enjoy reading our weekly legislative updates and that they help you stay informed and connected. If you enjoy them, please consider supporting our work with a donation today. Thank you for your continued support!

In this week’s update:

• Action alerts: Tell your legislators to support Medicaid expansion & prior authorization!
• Our priorities: Express lane Medicaid & expanding telehealth services
• Crossover day recap
• Advocacy events this week: LGBT advocacy & League of Women Voters virtual legislative day
• President Biden signs COVID-19 relief including extra Medicaid expansion funding for Georgia
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

Legislative update: Week 8

The GHF team prides itself on delivering timely and accurate updates to you on health care happenings at the Capitol. We hope that you enjoy reading our weekly legislative updates and that they help you stay informed and connected. If you enjoy them, please consider supporting our work with a donation today. Thank you for your continued support!

In this week’s update:

• Action alerts: Ask the House Rules Committee to prioritize mental health & substance use recovery today!
• Bills likely to receive a House or Senate vote today
• Approved last week: Emergency services, prior authorization, & the FY22 big budget
• Advocacy events this week: HIV decriminalization & Medicaid expansion advocacy day!
• U.S. Senate approves COVID-19 relief including extra Medicaid expansion funding for Georgia
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

Legislative Update: Week 7

The GHF team prides itself on being able deliver timely and accurate updates on health care happenings at the Capitol. We hope that you enjoy reading our weekly legislative updates and that they help you stay informed and connected. If you enjoy them, please consider supporting our work with a donation today. Thank you for your continued support!

In this week’s update:

• The General Assembly approves the calendar for the rest of session
• Action alerts: prior authorization, Medicaid expansion, & mental health & substance use updates!
• Legislation: telehealth, changes to nursing rules, & protecting the ACA 
• Advocacy events this week: transgender rights!
• Federal COVID-19 relief – including extra Medicaid expansion funding – passed by U.S. House
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

Legislative Update: Week 6

In this week’s update:

• Action alerts on childhood lead exposure and prior authorization bills
• Legislation on housing and Medicaid expansion!
• Advocacy events this week: housing & Asian Americans
• GHF’s got you covered this session!