Tomorrow, March 28th, marks the end of the legislative session, known as Sine Die. This week will be busy at the Capitol with lawmakers working long hours to finish bills and budget changes before midnight on Thursday.
GHF is closely monitoring several pieces of legislation, including proposals that would make it easier for mental health and substance use providers to serve Georgians; damage access to evidence-based medical care for transgender youth; and slash Georgia’s Housing Tax Credit.
Stay updated by following GHF and #gapol on social media. Next week, we’ll share a legislative update summarizing what was achieved and what wasn’t during this year’s session.
AN UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO CLOSE GEORGIA’S COVERAGE GAP
This year, Georgia had two realistic chances to provide health coverage for more people but unfortunately, our state leaders have not closed the coverage gap just yet. On March 21st, the Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee held a crucial hearing about House Bill 1077, which proposed a new program called PeachCare Plus to offer no-cost, private health insurance to the uninsured Georgians who are currently stuck in the coverage gap. It is the first time that a Georgia legislative committee has held a hearing for a bill that would fully close the coverage gap. After testimony from GHF’s Executive Director, the committee cast a tie vote of 7-7, meaning that HB 1077 didn’t pass. We’re grateful to the legislators who supported covering over 500,000 Georgians in need, and we hope they’ll keep pushing for it. Join us in saying “thank you” to those who voted in favor of closing the coverage gap.
Another opportunity to close the gap came through modifying House Bill 1339. This bill mainly deals with regulating hospitals but also includes a provision to explore closing Georgia’s coverage gap in 2025 or 2026 through a new Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission. HB 1339 received final approvals from both the House and Senate late last week. If the Governor signs it into law, the commission will likely start working on this issue this summer. We’ll keep you updated on the Commission’s progress and how you can get involved. Let’s keep advocating for a healthier future for all Georgians.
We’re thrilled to share a report released by the Georgia Health Initiative this week. This economic analysis estimates the gains that Georgia and Georgians would experience as a result of closing the coverage gap.Closing Georgia’s gap would generate more than 51,000 new jobs statewide each year in its first three years. Personal incomes would grow by $900 per household.
The report details its results by county and public health district for an even more localized look at the benefits of closing Georgia’s coverage gap.
Local cities and counties are important testing grounds for policies that improve community well-being and health. Trying out innovative ideas like locally-managed internet access, paid family leave, or local tobacco taxes can help close health and economic gaps for certain communities, and they help demonstrate the impacts of policies and programs if they were expanded to the state or federal level.
Increasingly, corporate lobbyists are influencing state lawmakers to use a tool called “preemption” to limit Georgia communities from trying out these kinds of new ideas. GHF is building a coalition of dedicated advocates to stand against harmful preemption policies that silence local voices and prevent communities from adopting policies that promote well-being and fairness for all residents.
As a coalition member, you’ll have the opportunity to:
Collaborate with GHF team members to shape the conversation around preemption in Georgia and its impact across various issues like public health, elections, internet access, & more.
Strategize about how to effectively defend against harmful preemption efforts that strip away local control.
Elevate your voice and empower other Georgians to advocate for community liberties and policies that support the health and well-being of all Georgia residents.
We believe that understanding how harmful state overreach takes place is key to our advocacy efforts. Check out GHF’s video and blog to learn more.
Interested in joining? Click the sign-up button below! If you want to learn more about how preemption may impact your local community before you consider joining, please reach out to GHF’s Organizing Manager Knetta Adkins at kadkins@healthyfuturega.org.
Together, let’s ensure communities have the decision-making power they need to build a healthier, more equitable future for all Georgians.
JOIN GHF IN CELEBRATING NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK!
Recognizing the power of public health all next week!
Join GHF to celebrate National Public Health Week (NPHW), happening from April 1st through April 7th. NPHW highlights the crucial role that Georgia’s public health agencies, workers, and laws play in keeping our families and communities safe and healthy.
To help lift the voices and perspectives of Georgia’s public health workers, we’re spotlighting this recent blog. In it, our local and state public health professionals shed light on the value of public health services to community members, the ongoing challenges that public health agencies face with staffing, funding, and other resources, and what they want state leaders to know about public health.
You can show your appreciation for Georgia’s great public health workers by signing GHF’s ‘Say “Yes” for Public Health’ petition and sharing it with others in your community!
Today marks Crossover Day, a pivotal point in Georgia’s legislative session where bills must be approved by their originating chamber. Once approved, the bills move across the Capitol to the other chamber. Bills that fail to pass out of their chamber of origin by the end of Crossover Day are unlikely to become law this session. (There are occasional exceptions to this rule.)
In the remaining days of the session, GHF will continue to advocate for closing the coverage gap, among other issues. Earlier this week HB 1339 was passed by the House and has moved on to the Senate chamber. This legislation – while primarily focused on the state’s certificate of need program for hospitals – includes a provision that would establish a Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission to explore closing Georgia’s coverage gap in the 2025 or 2026 legislative session.
While HB 1339 signals legislative interest in finding a solution, lawmakers have the power to close the coverage gap right now. Delaying access to health care for hardworking Georgians is costly for families, harms the state’s workforce, and strains rural hospitals. Rather than agreeing to study the issue, lawmakers should work together to pass legislation that allows Georgia to close the coverage gap this year. Contact your Senator today and urge them to close the coverage gap now! (See our full action alert in the next section below.)
With four weeks remaining in the session, committees are working quickly to hear and vote on legislation. Expect a lot of activity today, and be sure to look out for updates about health and housing legislation in our email update this Monday.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO COVER GEORGIA ADVOCACY DAY
Thank you again for your support and your advocacy!
We continue to extend our gratitude to the health care professionals, patients, and advocates who joined us for Cover Georgia’s advocacy day at the Capitol earlier this week! Advocates spent their time talking with elected officials and urging them to take action to close the coverage gap immediately to protect the health of all Georgians. Whether you attended in person or emailed or called your elected officials, you helped ensure lawmakers heard from Georgians about the need to close Georgia’s coverage gap! Thank you!
Couldn’t make it to the Capitol on Monday? You can still make your voice heard!
Let your Senator and Governor Kemp know that you care about closing Georgia’s coverage gap and you want them to take action during this legislative session by modifying HB 1339 by including language that will close the coverage gap now! Take a few minutes to contact them about why this issue matters to you.
Find and call your state Senator here. Call the last two officials on the page. (Please be polite when you speak with your elected officials or their staff.) Not sure what to say? We’ve got you covered–just click here.
or
Email your state Senator. Urge them to close Georgia’s Medicaid coverage gap during this legislative session.
Once you’ve contacted your elected officials, get loud on social media! Click here to access sample social media graphics and more to engage Georgians with messages about how closing Georgia’s coverage gap will benefit Georgia.
THE STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN GEORGIA
What do public health workers have to say about the state of public health in Georgia?
GHF recently released a blog that explores the state’s public health system from the perspectives of Georgia’s public health workers. The blog discusses findings from focus groups with rural and nonrural public health workers.
Through these focus groups, GHF learned about how public health workers view their work, the variety and quality of services their agencies provide, barriers to public health services that community members may experience, and challenges with staffing, funding, and sustaining public health services across the state.
GHF is using this information to encourage state leaders to adequately fund and support public health in Georgia. We will only be successful if leaders know that Georgians like you care about this issue. Show your support for public health workers, programs, and agencies here in Georgia by signing our ‘Say “Yes” for Public Health’ petition and sharing the petition with others in your community!
GHF’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR APPOINTED
TO ADVISE STATE INSURANCE OFFICIALS
Laura Colbert named as a 2024 Consumer Liaison Representative to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners!
GHF’s Executive Director, Laura Colbert, has been appointed as a Consumer Liaison Representative for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC’s Consumer Liaison program enables health care consumers and patient advocates from around the country to provide input from the consumer perspective as state insurance regulators work to oversee insurance products and protect insurance consumers. Having representation from Georgia’s health advocacy community in this program helps to ensure the voices of health care consumers in Georgia are heard as important decisions about health insurance and consumer protections are made.
One person’s story has the power to transform a decade of resistance into a resounding ‘yes’ for closing the gap. Our fellow Georgians and our lawmakers need to hear about your health challenges and victories.
Experiences like yours let lawmakers know what’s working, and what’s not, in our health care system. Your story shows our leaders why we need to change laws & policies so that health care is more affordable, accessible, and benefits our communities. Let our GHF team work with you to share your health care story.
We’re particularly interested in hearing from you if you are uninsured, enrolled in health insurance through healthcare.gov, have or had medical debt, or have Medicaid coverage.
We now have a new way to submit your story! Text your story! Text “MedEx” to “52886” to begin sharing your story.
We welcome all stories, so don’t be shy! Share your story now! Write or record your story here. Story sharers may be paid for their time.
Georgians for a Healthy Future is excited to welcome two nationally-recognized experts to this year’s Health Care Unscrambled keynote panel! Our conversation will feature Joan Alker, Executive Director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University and Alex Briscoe, Principal of theCalifornia Children’s Trust.
Our expert guests will examine changes in Georgia’s health coverage landscape; discuss the impacts on children, families, and marginalized Georgians; and envision how public and private health insurance could be leveraged to meaningfully support the well-being of Georgians.
You won’t want to miss this! RSVP today to take part in this great conversation on January 11, 2024!
Earlier this month, GHF hosted our 15th anniversary celebration! We were thrilled to have so many long-time and new supporters, partners, and colleagues join us for an evening to reflect on our first 15 years and to energize ourselves for the next. Thank you to all who were able to attend! See photos from the event here in our FaceBook photo album.
We want to again congratulate our four awardees, all of whom have had outsized impacts on GHF’s past and present, and on the well-being of Georgia families. We feel confident that all four will continue to succeed in their efforts to build the healthy, equitable future that we all want for our state.
Finally, thank you to our wonderful volunteers and generous sponsors! You help to power GHF’s advocacy in many ways.
Celebrating the policymakers, advocates, and partners who helped GHF along the way!
On September 12th, GHF will celebrate 15 years of reimagining and reshaping Georgia’s health laws! In our first 15 years, we have been privileged to spark real changes to our state’s policies while working alongside Georgians from Albany to Athens, from Ringgold to Brunswick.
GHF’s first 15 years of accomplishments would not be possible without dozens of organizational partners, community members, and state leaders. That is why we are proud to recognize four Georgians who have had outsized impacts on GHF’s past and present, and on the well-being of Georgia families with the following awards. Please join us in applauding these individuals now and at our 15th anniversary celebration!
Linda Smith Lowe Health Advocacy Award
Cindy Zeldin, Vice President of Health Policy & Government Affairs, Healthcare Georgia Foundation
Powerhouse Policymaker Awards
Commissioner John King, Office of the Commissioner of Insurance & Fire Safety
Dante McKay, Director, Office of Children, Young Adults & Families at the Georgia Dept. of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities
Community Impact Award
Vira Salzburn, Program Director for Safety and Resilience programs, Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council
Join us to recognize these individuals and their contributions to health equity in Georgia, and celebrate GHF’s 15 years of impact! RSVP today! We look forward to seeing you there.
Tuesday, September 12th | 6-8 pm | Historic Academy of Medicine
On July 30th, Medicaid will celebrate its 58th year!
Georgians for a Healthy Future celebrates the 58th anniversary of Medicaid this Sunday, July 30th! Fifty-eight (58) years ago Medicaid was signed into law and since then has provided affordable health care coverage to low-income children, pregnant people, people with disabilities, and seniors. One of Medicaid’s biggest lifetime achievements has been to narrow racial disparities in health care access all across the country.
This year, Medicaid’s birthday is happening amidst two BIG changes for Georgia’s Medicaid program:
1) Georgia has begun reviewing almost all Medicaid members to see who still qualifies for coverage. The process is off to a rocky start, and almost 100,000 Georgians have lost their Medicaid coverage to date. If you, your children, or other loved ones are covered by Medicaid, stay in charge of your coverage by logging into your Georgia Gateway accountand look out for notices from the state about your coverage. If you are not a Medicaid member, help spread the word in your community.
2) Georgia has rolled out a new program for some uninsured low-income adults called Pathways to Coverage. If you or someone you know are currently uninsured, plan to join us for our August 8th FaceBook Live event to learn more about Pathways, whether you may qualify for coverage, and how to apply through Georgia Gateway. (Scroll down to the “Your Guide to Georgia Pathways” section for more information.)
Let’s celebrate Medicaid’s birthday by helping children and families keep their coverage during the Medicaid renewals process, getting as many Georgians as possible newly covered under the Pathways program, and keeping up the calls for Medicaid expansion!
CELEBRATING FATHER’S DAY & JUNETEENTH
WITH COVER GEORGIA THIS MONTH!
This Juneteenth, Black Georgians of color deserve better!
Despite living in a state that is recognized as a global hub of health care innovation, employment, and investment, Black Georgians continue to experience worse health than white Georgians. The ways that our laws are structured is one cause for this inequality.
Black Georgians still lack equal access to affordable health care in our state. Almost 15% of Black Georgiansare uninsured, compared to 11.9% of white Georgians who are uninsured. Additionally, Black Georgians are more likely to have medical debt in collections than white Georgians, due in part to higher uninsured rates.
Fortunately, our state leaders have an opportunity to reduce this inequity. The most effective action they could take is to expand Medicaid to cover uninsured adults in Georgia. This action would cover an estimated 140,000 Black Georgians and more than 490,000 Georgians total.
A gift for Georgia dads? Medicaid expansion!
For more than a decade, 400,000 Georgians have not been able to meaningfully access Georgia’s health care system because our state has not expanded Medicaid to all low-income, uninsured adults. One in four people in this coverage gap are Georgia parents.When dads and other parents don’t have health coverage, their children’s well-being also suffers. The health of Georgia’s children depends on their parent’s ability to care and support them–a task that is much easier for healthy, thriving parents.
Parents can only stay healthy if they can visit a doctor when they are sick, get affordable medicines at the pharmacy, and can be screened early for illnesses like cancer.
GHF and Cover Georgia are celebrating Juneteenth and Father’s Day all month long by letting state leaders know how Black Georgians and dads would be better off with Medicaid expansion. Tell your state legislators today that ALL Georgians deserve better access to health care with Medicaid expansion!
NEW! GHF RELEASES HOUSING RESEARCH
& POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
7 policy recommendations to improve housing (and health) for Georgians with intellectual & developmental disabilities (IDD)
Last week, Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities hosted a virtual event to discuss opportunities to improve access to affordable, accessible housing for Georgians with IDD.
During the event, Whitney Griggs presented original research detailing the housing needs and challenges faced by Georgians with IDD and their caregivers. She also outlined seven policy recommendations to address their housing burdens and improve housing for all Georgians. To close the event, Whitney spoke with three disabilty housing leaders who added their perspectives and stories.
You can re-watch the event here and find the report on our website!
GHF will soon begin our second phase of advocacy in support of healthy housing. Stay tuned to learn more and get involved!
GHF is hosting focus groups to hear from public health workers. Sign up today!
Are you a Georgia public health worker? GHF would like to invite you to take part in Community Conversations! Fill out this interest form to participate. These discussion groups with state, local, and district public health workers will help GHF better understand how to best support and strengthen Georgia’s public health systems and workers. Topics of discussion will focus on Georgia’s public health workforce, local and state public health policies, the public’s trust in public health workers and agencies, and more. Your participation and feedback will remain anonymous.
The information collected from these focus groups will help GHF and partner groups effectively engage the public and state leaders about what public health does and its value important in our lives.
We will host three sessions for public health workers in: 1) Rural local or district PH departments; 2) Non-rural local or district PH departments; and 3) the Georgia Dept. of Public Health. Each discussion group will take place virtually and last approximately 90 minutes.
Participation incentive: $25 gift card per participant.
Cover Georgia at the Georgia Capitol to advocate for Medicaid expansion
On Febraury 27, we were thrilled to have so many advocates take the time to be at Cover Georgia advocacy day at the Capitol! We had a wonderful day full of talking with elected officials and urging them to take action to expand Medicaid immediately to protect the health of and improve well-being for all Georgians. Whether you attended in person or emailed and called, you helped ensure Governor Kemp and state legislators heard from Georgians about the need to close Georgia’s coverage gap! Thank you!
Couldn’t make it to the Capitol? There are other ways to support closing Georgia’s coverage gap!
Share the Georgia Can’t Wait videos from Glenwood and Cuthbert, Georgia. Help others learn about the connections between rural prosperity, hospital closures, and Medicaid expansion. (We’re happy to come to your community to share and discuss the videos in person too!)
If you are uninsured or know someone who is, we want to help you share your story! Your voice is a powerful tool to help others understand the need for Georgia to close its coverage gap. Write or record your story at healthyfuturega.org/story.
THIS MONDAY! COVER GEORGIA ADVOCACY DAY AT THE CAPITOL!
February 27th: Join Cover Georgia at the Georgia Capitol to advocate for Medicaid expansion
Join Cover Georgia to ask our lawmakers to expand Medicaid so all Georgians–regardless of their income–have a pathway to health coverage. This Monday, Cover Georgia will host an advocacy day at the Georgia Capitol. The morning will begin with a training for those who want to learn more about the opportunity for Medicaid expansion in Georgia. You will learn effective advocacy skills to help you talk with your legislator and visit the Capitol to put your training into action!
This is your chance to speak up about one of the biggest issues impacting the health of Georgians. Make your voice heard in support of Medicaid expansion in Georgia!
RSVP for 2023 Cover Georgia’s advocacy training!
Can’t make it to the Capitol this Monday? You can still let your lawmakers know that you care about this issue and you want them to take action. Take a few minutes to contact your state legislators now! Ask the House Health Committee to hear HB 62! Then ask the Senate Appropriations, Health subcommittee for a hearing on SB 24! Both bills would expand Medicaid in Georgia. Hearings give supporters and opponents a chance to publicly make their cases for or against an issue. Ask state leaders to allow a public and fair discussion of this important issue today!
NEW! STORIES FROM GEORGIA’S RURAL HOSPITAL CLOSURES
Since 2010, 9 rural hospitals have closed in Georgia. That puts Georgia third in the nation for hospital closures behind Tennessee and Texas. Rural hospitals in states that have not expanded Medicaid to low-income adults are more likely to close, shutting off access to care for their communities.
When a hospital closes in a rural community, the effects ripple through every part of community life. The hospital’s doctors and nurses move away. Residents are left without access to emergency care and other important health services. Businesses around the hospital may close—a local pharmacy, the downtown diner, or the florist.
This year GHF documented stories from community members following two local hospital closures in Glenwood and Cuthbert, Georgia. We are humbled to share both stories with you today in two videos.
Watch the Glenwood and Cuthbert stories on our Georgia Can’t Wait page. Learn more about how communities struggle when hospitals are allowed to fail, in part because of our leaders’ refusal to expand Medicaid to their uninsured constituents.
On January 10th, GHF will kick off the Georgia legislature’s health care conversations at Health Care Unscrambled 2023. Legislators, advocates, and national thought leaders will discuss legislative solutions to our state’s most pressing health issues, the health landscapes in rural and urban Georgia, and how we can work together to build a healthier future for our state.
We hope you will join GHF, our outstanding keynote speakers, and a bipartisan legislative panel for Health Care Unscrambled on Tuesday, January 10th at 7:30 am. We look forward to the in-person networking and collaboration that Health Care Unscrambled always sparks!
RSVP today to take part in this great conversation on January 10th!
GHF asked for your support on Giving Tuesday and we couldn’t be more grateful for your generosity towards GHF! Gifts to Georgians for a Healthy Future ensure that our organization can be a strong, responsive voice for Georgia health care consumers now and in the future. Your support activates a network of health advocates across the state in support of policies that protect and promote the health and well-being of every Georgian.
Thank you!
Didn’t get a chance to donate on Tuesday? You still can! Together we can build a healthy, equitable Georgia!
Health Care Unscrambled is a special, annual opportunity for health advocates and stakeholders to hear from state policymakers about what they plan to tackle in the year ahead, and to better understand the health experiences of Georgia consumers. After two years of virtual programs, we look forward to the in-person networking and collaboration that Health Care Unscrambled always sparks!
Please plan to attend on Tuesday, January 10th for Health Care Unscrambled 2023! RSVP today! We look forward to seeing you there.
Recognize Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with GHF on Facebook TODAY!
Georgians for a Healthy Future will discuss suicide awareness and prevention on FaceBook TODAY, September 28th, at 1pm! Deanna Williams and Knetta Adkins will be joined by Miriam Goodfriend, Advocacy Coordinator at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Georgia, to discuss mental health resources and information.
Their engaging conversation will cover taboos related to suicidality and how Georgians can increase access to mental health resources in their communities.They will also discuss a special open enrollment period to help more Georgians get health insurance, which covers mental health as an essential health service.
Thank you for coming to GHF’s Family & Friends Reunion!
Almost two weeks ago, the GHF team, our colleagues, partners, and supporters came together to reconnect at GHF’s Family & Friends Reunion. Against a city sunset, we shared advocacy ideas, kicked off GHF’s new strategic plan, and enjoyed each other’s company.
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend and participate in this fun evening! We would also like to thank our generous sponsors for supporting this summer celebration. Our year-round advocacy is stronger because of your partnerships and gifts. Thank you!
Recognize Breastfeeding Awareness Month with GHF on Facebook Live tomorrow!
Georgians for a Healthy Future will discuss breastfeeding and maternal health on FaceBook Live this Wednesday, August 31st, at noon! Deanna Williams, Health Insurance Navigator, and Knetta Adkins, Organizing Manager, will be joined by Patricia Prime, Owner of Prime BabyTime Consulting, to discuss breastfeeding resources and information.
Their energizing conversation will cover racial disparities in breastfeeding, highlight the current infant formula shortage and Georgia’s response, and other aspects of infant and maternal health. They will also discuss what mothers and parents need to know about health insurance, and a special open enrollment period to help more Georgians get covered.
Only two weeks to go until GHF’s Friends & Family Reunion! Will you be there?
GHF has seen your virtual advocacy and felt your support since March 2020, but we’ve missed being together with our friends, colleagues, supporters, and partners. We are inviting you to reconnect with us and see some familiar faces at GHF’s Friends & Family Reunion event on Thursday, September 15th!
Join us as we take in sky line views of atlanta, sip refreshing mocktails and cocktails from TippyTap’s Italian beverage mini-truck, and snack on appetizers from one of Atlanta’s favorite taco makers. Catch up with advocacy leaders, public health professionals, policy makers, and our GHF team.
Our board and staff have welcomed new members, we’re kicking off a new strategic plan, and we’re just as dedicated as ever to building a healthy, equitable Georgia. We hope to see you soon as we celebrate our new directions and reconnect with our favorite colleagues.
Join GHF in celebrating the 57th anniversary of Medicaid!
Georgians for a Healthy Future celebrates the 57th anniversary of Medicaid this Saturday, July 30th! Fifty-seven (57) years ago Medicaid was signed into law and since then has worked to provide affordable health care coverage to low-income children, pregnant people, people with disabilities, and seniors. One of Medicaid’s biggest lifetime achievements has been to narrow racial disparities in health care access all across the country.
GHF continues to fight for Medicaid expansion in throughout Georgia so that all Georgians receive the health care they rightfully deserve! While we continue to advocate for the Georgia adults who have been left behind by state leaders, let us take this day to celebrate all Medicaid has done for our state and will hopefully do in the future. Tune into GHF’s Facebook and Twitter page to join in on the celebration of this monumental day!
What is Medicaid doing for Georgians families?
Hear from Hannah, a Georgia mother on how Medicaid helped her family afford the proper care when adopting their two sons. Watch here!
Join GHF in celebrating Pride Health Month via Facebook Live!
Georgians for a Healthy Future will host a Pride Month discussion on FaceBook LiveTODAY, June 29th, at 12pm. Treylin Cooley, GHF’s Health Insurance Navigator, will be joined by George Dingle, WeRU radio host, and Nathan Towndson, HIV advocate and Ryan White Planning Council representative, to highlight the intersection of Pride month and Men’s Health Awareness month.
Their energizing conversation will inform audiences about PRIDE and men’s health month, while highlighting resources that provide support for LGBTQIA+ community and men’s services program in Dekalb County. The group will also discuss a new special enrollment period to help more Georgians get covered, and identify how insured and uninsured Georgians can access mental health services.
Join GHF in celebrating Mental Health Month via Facebook Live!
Georgians for a Healthy Future will host a Mental Health Awareness Month discussion on FaceBook Live tomorrow, May 25th. GHF’s Knetta Adkins, Deanna Williams, and Treylin Cooley will be joined by joined by Camila Gomez, Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc. (CPACS) and Tom Lui, DLWellness, LLC to highlight the intersection of MH Awareness Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Their energizing conversation GHF will highlight a new Georgia law that improves insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorders. The group will also discuss a new special enrollment period to help more Georgians get covered, and identify how insured and uninsured Georgians can access to mental health services.
GHF also celebrated Mental Health Awareness Month at two other events. We were so pleased to participate in Children’s Mental Health Day at the Capitol and the Rosalyn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum. We are happy to continue the incredible mental health advocacy from the legislative session through May and through many months to come.
Georgians for a Healthy Future is looking for people with developmental disabilities (DD) and family members/caregivers of people with DD to help lead a new project. The project, funded by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, aims to improve housing and support services for Georgians with DD by researching current barriers to housing and potential policy solutions to address these barriers.
Leadership group members will help direct the project. Your input will ensure that the research is accessible and representative of Georgians with DDs. Members will help decide what we ask Georgians with DD about housing, help GHF interpret the survey results, and share the results with their communities.
Each member will be asked to participate in one 2-hour meeting per month. The meetings will begin in May 2022 and end in spring 2023. Each member will receive $25 for every meeting they attend.
If you think you would be a good fit for the leadership group, please fill out this form to learn more. If you know someone that you think would be a good fit, please share!
Georgia’s 2022 legislative session ends next week!
Georgia’s 2022 legislative session is set to wrap up soon! Monday, April 4th will be the final day of session, also called “Sine Die”. You can find a full list of health-related legislation, including whether or not a bill is still awaiting a final vote, at GHF’s legislative tracker here. You can also follow the live House & Senate debates and votes at legis.ga.gov.
If you missed this week’s legislative update (or any of the legislative updates since January), catch up by visiting GHF’s blog!
What more can you do before the end of session?
Ask your Georgia state Senator to approve the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act when it comes to the floor for a vote today!
This morning, the Senate Rules committee took decisive action and restored pro-consumer, pro-recovery parity language that had been removed earlier this week. The fix restores the original intent of the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act—to expand access to mental health and substance use services for Georgians.
ADVOCACY DURING THE 2022 GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
GHF at the Capitol
As the 2022 legislative session progresses, GHF is speaking up for the health and well-being of Georgians. Here’s what we’re working on so far this session:
The Mental Health Parity Act—as a member of the Mental Health Public Policy partnership, GHF testified in support of the bill during its first hearing in the House Health & Human Services committee. Learn more about this bill here.
Strengthening Georgia’s public health system—GHF encouraged the House Health Appropriations subcommittee to sustainably fund a bigger public health workforce and effective public health programs.
GHF has weighed in on bills that would extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months (SB 338); improve affordability of prescription drugs for some Georgians (HB 867); increase transparency of insurance coverage of mental health & substance use (SB 342); and add vaping to Georgia’s Smoke-Free Air Act (HB 1348).
Follow GHF’s legislative tracker and read our weekly legislative updates to follow the action under the Gold Dome.
Thanks to you, GHF’s 12th annual Health Care Unscrambled was a huge success! We were thrilled to have so many advocates, policy makers, health care providers, and public health professionals join us for this year’s virtual event!
HCU 2022 available!
Missed this year’s Health Care Unscrambled? No worries! Recording of this event is available here. Our digital program also features information about our speakers and special guests, presentation slides and materials, and HCU’s generous sponsors.
Thank you for choosing GHF on Giving Tuesday! Your generous donations warm our hearts, and help us mobilize health advocates across the state in support of policies & laws that promote Georgia’s health and wellness. Advocacy is year-round work. Your support is essential for GHF to remain a strong, responsive voice for Georgians and their famliies. Thank you!
If you didn’t get a chance to donate and can afford to, it’s not too late! Consider becoming a monthly donor and let GHF know we can count on you for the long haul!
Give once to show your support twice!
GHF hosts two great events each year. You can show your support for our work with a sponsorship! Health Care Unscrambled will take place on January 11, 2022 and Give ‘Em Health trivia will be held later in the year. Two great events! Give once to support GHF’s important work twice in 2022!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Get your tickets for HCU 2022!
Next month GHF will kick off the Georgia legislature’s health care conversations at Health Care Unscrambled. This breakfast brings together legislators, advocates, and national thought leaders to discuss the most pressing health issues facing Georgians and solutions that build a healthier state.
We hope you will join GHF, Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, and a bipartisan legislative panel for Health Care Unscrambled on Tuesday, January 11th at 7:30 am. Limited in-person attendance is available (with masks & proof of vaccination), along with a virtual streaming option. RSVP today to secure your spot!
Healthcare.gov is open for business through January 15th! You can browse available plans now and enroll in affordable, comprehensive coverage for 2022. Even if you’ve shopped for health insurance in the past, now is the time to visit healthcare.gov again. New financial help is available to many more Georgians than before. If you or someone you know needs health insurance in 2022, now is the time to get covered!
Have questions or need help? Connect with health insurance navigators Treylin Cooley and Deanna Williams:
Treylin Cooley, tcooley@healthyfuturega.org, (470) 654-5484. Special focus on LGBTQ+ Georgians.
Deanna Williams, dwilliams@healthyfuturega.org, (470) 654-5509. Special focus on middle Georgia (in the Macon/Bibb Co. area)
SPEAK UP! TAKE ACTION!
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Gov. Kemp wants to make health insurance harder for Georgians. Comment today!
Federal health officials have asked—likely for the last time—for your opinion on Governor Kemp’s proposal to remake health insurance in Georgia. Your comments become part of a powerful legal record that may protect Georgians and their families from a plan that will only make health insurance harder. Don’t miss your chance to say how this plan will affect you, your loved ones, and Georgians across the state. Comment today!
As scientists and public health officials learn more about the Omicron variant, we will keep our resources updated with key messages to support your communications.
Protect the progress we’ve made. Tell federal health officials that Georgians want to keep healthcare.gov!
Federal health officials are re-examining Governor Kemp’s plan to reshape private health insurance in Georgia. As part of this important legal process, they have asked the public to weigh in. This is your chance to speak up and protect access to affordable, quality health care in Georgia!
The Governor’s plan was a bad fit for Georgia when it was put forward in 2019 and it’s an even worse fit for our state today. Many more Georgians rely on the ACA Marketplace now because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability of more generous financial help. Georgia’s marketplace is finally making progress and this plan would only reverse those improvements. Learn more & comment today!
Today is Giving Tuesday!
GHF is asking for your support today. If you can afford to donate, we hope that GHF is among the non-profits to which you choose to give!
Your support activates a network of health advocates across the state in support of policies that protect and promote the health and well-being of every Georgian. Donate today to be part of a powerful, statewide movement of Georgians armed with stories from their communities and the best data available working to reshape our laws and policies. Together we can build a healthy, equitable Georgia!
Thank you!
DON’T FORGET
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Get your tickets to see Dr. Georges Benjamin at HCU 2022!
At Health Care Unscrambled, you will hear Dr. Benjamin’s perspectives on rebuilding our public health systems following COVID-19; how to protect public health from politicization; and public health’s role in the elimination of racial and geographic health disparities. We so pleased to welcome such a distinguished guest to HCU 2022!
We hope you will join GHF & Dr. Benjamin for Health Care Unscrambled on Tuesday, January 11th at 7:30 am. Limited in-person attendance is available (with masks & proof of vaccination), along with a virtual streaming option. RSVP today to secure your spot!
Healthcare.gov opened for business on Monday, November 1st! Consumers can browse available plans now and enroll in affordable, comprehensive coverage through January 15, 2022. Even if you’ve shopped for health insurance in the past, now is the time to visit healthcare.gov again. New financial help is available to many more Georgians than before. If you or someone you know needs health insurance in 2022, now is the time to get covered!
Have questions or need help? Connect with health insurance navigators Treylin Cooley and Deanna Williams:
Treylin Cooley, tcooley@healthyfuturega.org, (470) 654-5484. Special focus on LGBTQ+ Georgians.
Deanna Williams, dwilliams@healthyfuturega.org, (470) 654-5509. Special focus on middle Georgia (in the Macon/Bibb Co. area)
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
U.S. House passes 4-year coverage gap fix in Build Back Better Act
On November 19th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act. The bill would close the coverage gap through 2025 for 2.2 million Americans in Georgia and 11 other states that haven’t expanded Medicaid. GHF is grateful for the efforts of our health care champions in the House for their monumental work—and to you for flexing your advocacy muscles! We encourage the Senate to urgently approve the same bill so that uninsured Georgians who have been left behind for almost a decade can easily and affordably access health care. Join us in urging the Senate to act today!
GHF hosts HHS Director of Intergovernmental & External Affairs for roundtable discussion
Last month, GHF hosted a roundtable discussion with Marvin Figueroa, Director of the Office of Intergovernmental & External Affairs at the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services. The discussion was an opportunity for health advocates and providers to share the health issues most impacting Georgians and to exchange ideas with federal health officials about how to best work together to resolve them. GHF was honored to host this collaborative conversation! We look forward to future opportunities to learn and share with policy makers at all levels of government.
On November 2, the CDC recommended that children age 5-11 get a COVID-19 vaccine, expanding pediatric vaccine eligibility to all children and adolescents age 5 and older.
The Surgeon General’s Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, and community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities.
The survey results revealed that the majority of Georgians struggled to afford care in the past year and even more are worried about affording care, including COVID-19 treatment, in the future. Additionally, the survey found broad, bipartisan support for government measures to address high health care costs. You can find the full report and survey results here. If you’d like to watch the program & great discussion with our guests, click here.
Don’t forget! GHF and local partners will be hosting regional forums to discuss the local survey results and region-specific drivers of high health care costs. You can register for the Nov. 3rd Southewest Georgia forum here and the Nov. 10th East Georgia forum here.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Please join Georgians for a Healthy Future for our 12th annual Health Care Unscrambled!
Health Care Unscrambled is a special, annual opportunity for health advocates and stakeholders to hear from state policymakers about what they plan to tackle in the year ahead, to learn about emerging health policy issues from nationally-renowned experts, and to better understand the health experiences of Georgia consumers.
Because of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, GHF’s Health Care Unscrambled 2022 will be streamed statewide online. (An in-person attendance option with appropriate safety precautions is TBD.)
Please plan to join us on Tuesday, January 11th for Health Care Unscrambled 2022! RSVP today! We look forward to seeing you there.
Open enrollment begins this Monday! Healthcare.gov opens for business this Monday, November 1st! Consumers can browse available plans now and enroll in affordable, comprehensive coverage from November 1, 2021 to January 15, 2022. Even if you’ve shopped for health insurance in the past, now is the time to visit healthcare.gov again. New financial help is available to many more Georgians than before. If you or someone you know needs health insurance in 2022, now is the time to get covered!
GHF’s health insurance navigators are available to help!
Please meet Treylin Cooley and Deanna Williams, GHF’s two new health insurance navigators. Treylin and Deanna are available to help you and your loved ones understand your health insurance options, get enrolled, and use your coverage. Contact Treylin and Deanna directly with your health insurance questions:
Treylin Cooley, tcooley@healthyfuturega.org, (470) 654-5484. Special focus on LGBTQ+ Georgians.
Deanna Williams, dwilliams@healthyfuturega.org, (470) 654-5509. Special focus on middle Georgia (in the Macon/Bibb Co. area)
Follow GHF on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn and share messages about the opportunity to enroll in health insurance, the availability of financial assistance, and how to find enrollment help.
GEORGIA VOICES FOR MEDICAID TRAININGS CONTINUE
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
GHF hosted 2 trainings in October, plans 2 more trainings for November
GHF hosted two Georgia Voices for Medicaid trainings this month. Both groups discussed ways to increase awareness of Medicaid for Georgians with developmental disabilities. Participants heard from GHF’s Knetta Adkins about who Medicaid covers, how it benefits the state, and how Georgians with a developmental disability and the people who support them can engage in advocacy in support of Medicaid.
Missed these trainings? Register to attend a training on November 4th or November 11th. RVSP below and complete the required pre-survery. Then you will recieve the Zoom link needed to attend the event.
GHF endeavors to make our virtual discussions accessible to everyone. If you have questions about the accessible features or need to request accommodations, please contact Knetta Adkins at kadkins@healthyfuturega.org or 404-400-2715 at least 5 business days prior to the event.
Click Here to Register for the November 4th Training:
Click Here to Register for the November 11th Training:
GHF WELCOMES NEW STAFF
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Daniel Nguyen, Deanna Williams and Treylin Cooley join the GHF team!
Daniel Nguyen is GHF’s new Administrative Assistant. In this role, he will support GHF’s growing team with day-to-day operations, office management, and other administrative functions. Prior to making the switch to the nonprofit sector, Daniel worked in finance in Washington, D.C. His lifelong passion and commitments are towards improving racial equity, and social and economic justice.
Treylin Cooley is a health insurance navigator focusing on Georgia’s LGBTQ+ community. Treylin is a social worker by training and has worked with many diverse groups from at-risk youth to military veterans, Treylin brings a grassroots perspective to his work and has made it his mission to advocate for equality for all from education to healthcare.
Deanna Williams is a health insurance navigator focusing in the Central Georgia area. In this role, Deanna will provide enrollment and outreach in specifically 10 counties surround the city of Macon. Deanna began her career at the Department of Family of Children Services in Bibb county and later on passed her CMS training to become a certified Medicare counselor for the State of Georgia.
We are pleased Daniel, Deanna and Treylin have joined our team! You can read more about them and find their contact information on GHF’s Staff & Board of Directors page.
Halloween is around the corner! Download and share these communications resources – including safety guidance, an activity for kids, and social graphics – to help achieve a sweet and safe holiday in your community.
The CDC Foundation launched a Vaccine Resource Hub developed to support individuals and organizations working to increase adult immunization across all communities, especially those experiencing racial and ethnic disparities.
Georgia officials say local health departments will begin offering more COVID-19 vaccine booster shots on Tuesday, Oct. 26, following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
We have a rare and urgent opportunity to fix Georgia’s coverage gap problem in Congress now! Earlier this month, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee unveiled a new bill that would permanently close the coverage gap in Georgia and 11 other states. This fix from Congress would apply to 2.2 million people living in states that have not offered Medicaid coverage to low-income individuals and families.
We are encouraged by this commitment from the House but there’s no guarantee that the proposal makes it into the final bill. Congressional leaders are negotiating the details of the final bill this week and they need to hear from you!
You can read more about the proposed coverage gap fix in the Build Back Better Legislation here.
PUT THESE GHF EVENTS ON YOUR OCTOBER CALENDAR
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Coming up Short: A discussion of affordability, access, & consumer views on policy fixes on October 14th!
Please join Georgians for a Healthy Future and a panel of health care leaders for the Coming Up Short policy forum. You will see the results of Altarum’s Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey, which asked more than 950 Georgia consumers about their experiences and views on a range of health system issues, including affordability, prescription drugs, confidence in using the health system, and views on potential policy fixes. The statewide and regional results shine a light on the most promising areas for action to address Georgians’ health needs. The forum will be held virtually on Thursday, October 14th from 9 – 11 am. Please join us!
Bring your lunch to the Georgia Voices for Medicaid trainings!
Join Knetta Adkins, Organizing Manager, on the first and third Thursdays in October for the Georgia Voices for Medicaid lunch and learn from noon – 12:45 pm. These will be interactive sessions about health coverage, Georgians with developmental disabilities, and health advocacy. You will learn about who Medicaid covers, how Medicaid benefits the state, and how Georgians experiencing a developmental disability can engage in Medicaid advocacy.
To attend the October 7th or October 21st trainings, please RVSP below and complete the required pre-survery. Then you will receive the Zoom link needed to attend the event.
Click Here to Register for the October 7th Training:
Click Here to Register for the October 21st Training:
GHF & PARTNERS KICK OFF TRAINING FOR CHWS
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Community Voices for Health Georgia hosted its inaugural Civic, Advocacy, and Engagement training
Georgia Watch, GHF, & our project partners hosted the first Civic, Advocacy, & Engagement training in Atlanta on August 24-25. A small group of community health workers (CHWs) took part (with COVID-19 safety protocols in place), spending two sessions learning and growing as health advocacy leaders. The six-module training equips CHWs with important tools and resources to lead and mobilize their communities to advocate for solutions to local health needs and inequities.
Sixty CHWs have registered to attend these small-group trainings, which will take place across the state. Click here to learn more about the training.
Alex McDoniel is a dynamic communications specialist with experience supporting all aspects of public relations, marketing and communication initiatives.
Prior to joining GHF, Alex worked in communications for former Governor Matthew Bevin of Kentucky’s administration, where she contributed to several significant workforce and economic development, education, and health care campaigns. She also supported communications and organizing strategies in various federal and state political campaigns and military non-profit groups. Alex earned her Bachelor’s degree from Murray State University, with a focus on public relations and political science.
We are pleased that Alex has joined our team! You can contact Alex at amcdoniel@healthyfuturega.org.
Both the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the use of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for older, at-risk adults. The Georgia Department of Public Health followed suit by saying it would follow the CDC’s guidance and recommendations regarding booster shots.
Georiga Tech’s Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation has created multiple resources to help people with disabilities more easily access, use, and share COVID-19 information. These resources include short vidoes, braille resources, accessible documents and PDF’s, ASL resources and many more
Public health expert Amber Schmidtke looks at the trends of Georgia’s COVID-19 vaccinations, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. She presents her analyses in an understandable and useable way.
New Georgia Medicaid change creates opportunity to invest in school health workforce
A new amendment to Georgia’s Medicaid program will now allow schools to bill for school nursing services provided to all Medicaid enrolled students. Previously, students needed an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in order for Medicaid to cover school nursing services, thus limiting the services schools could be reimbursed for.
Half of Georgia’s kids are covered by Medicaid or PeachCare, so this change is dramatic and creates an opportunity to bring in hundreds of millions of Medicaid dollars to Georgia’s school districts. The change to school Medicaid policy requires the Georgia Departments of Education and Community Health work together to ensure schools are able to successfully take advantage of this opportunity.
You can read more about the new update to Georgia Medicaid here or reach out to Whitney Griggs, GHF’s Health Policy Analyst, at wgriggs@healthyfuturega.org if you have questions.
GIVE ‘EM HEALTH TRIVIA NIGHT IS THIS THURSDAY!
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Party with GHF & DJ WillyWow! on August 26!
GHF’s second annual Give ‘Em Health trivia night is tomorrow, Thursday, August 26th and today is the last day to register. DJ WillyWow is bringing his hype and fun to the celebration! In addition to DJ WillyWow’s award-winning party stylings, we will be recognizing state Representative Sharon Cooper for her impact on the health and well-being of Georgia children and families. Plus, the winning trivia team will go home with prizes and glory!
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION VISITS WITH GEORGIA ADVOCATES
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra, hosts conversation with Georgians
Earlier this month, GHF’s Outreach Manager Knetta Adkins, joined fellow advocates, Members of Congress, and community members in a round table discussion with HHS Secretary Beccera. The discussion was an opportunity for community leaders to share the health care concerns and challenges affecting Georgians with the Biden Administration.
Knetta will share her take-aways from Secretary Beccera’s Georgia visit in an upcoming blog. We will share it on GHF’s Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn profiles so be sure your following us on your favorite social media platforms!
Tensions rise between Governor Kemp & Biden admin over Georgia’s ACA waiver
Back in June, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requested more data from Governor Kemp rabout his proposed ACA waiver, which would disallow Georgia from using healthcare.gov. State leaders declined to provide updated data and information, instead suggesting that federal officials were not acting in good faith.
Confused about what’s happening with Gov. Kemp’s two health care waivers? Cover Georgia has the latest on this handy timeline.
SAVE THE DATE: POLICY FORUM ON SEPTEMBER 23RD
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Join GHF for a discussion of affordability, access, & consumer views on policy fixes on September 23rd!
Please join Georgians for a Healthy Future and health care leaders to discuss the results from the Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey, conducted by Altarum. The survey asked more than 950 Georgia consumers about their experiences and views on a range of health system issues, including affordability, prescription drugs, confidence in using the health system, and views on potential policy fixes. The statewide and regional results shine a light on the msot promising areas for action to address Georgians’ health needs. The forum will be held virtually on September 23rd from 9 – 11 am. Please stay tuned for more details!
Special enrollment period for health insurance ends Aug. 15th
Help us spread the word: Georgians have less than one month before the August 15th deadline to enroll in affordable, comprehensive health coverage!
Under the new American Rescue Plan Act, 127,000 uninsured Georgians are newly eligible for financial help to lower their health insurance costs. Another 134,900 uninsured Georgians now qualify for zero-dollar ($0) premiums. Healthcare.gov is open through August 15th so consumers can shop and enroll!
Here are a few resources that may help you or your loved ones get covered:
If you are already insured, share our posts on FaceBook, Twitter, & LinkedIn to help us spread the word!
GIVE ‘EM HEALTH TRIVIA NIGHT IS ONE MONTH AWAY!
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Party with GHF & DJ WillyWow on August 26!
GHF’s second annual Give ‘Em Health trivia night is coming up on Thursday, August 26th and DJ WillyWow is bringing his hype and fun to the celebration! DJ Willy Wow is an award winning songwriter, music producer, voiceover artist, and celebrity DJ who’s currently on SiriusXM Kids Place Live. In 2020, he was recognized as one of the top 20 DJs in the country during the pandemic by Parade Magazine.
PROGRESS FOR QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE!
ACT NOW!
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
My Care Counts! Add your voice before the July 28th deadline!
We all know that health insurance can be complicated. Enrollment periods, premiums, deductibles, and plan selection are confusing, if not overwhelming. Right now federal health officials are considering new rules that would make it easier and asking for your comments. These new rules would:
Make it easier to enroll in health insurance
Provide more consumer assistance to help people understand and use their health insurance
Restore protections so that Georgia and other states can’t make it harder for people to get covered or force people into plans with higher out-of-pocket costs
This fix would make health insurance available to as many as 500,000 uninsured Georgia workers, parents, veterans, and young adults. Early commitments from Congressional leaders like Hosue Speaker Pelosi and Senator Bernie Sanders provide hope that these proposals have a real chance at becoming law!
Gov. Kemp declines to provide more info. about his plan to separate Georgians from healthcare.gov
In June, federal health officials asked Gov. Kemp for more information about his plan to cut ties with the ACA’s health insurance marketplace (healthcare.gov). State leaders declined to provide updated data and information, instead suggesting that federal officials were not acting in good faith.
In response, GHF’s Executive Director said this: “The federal government is reasonably asking Georgia to prove that this plan meets the ACA’s standards.”
Confused about what’s happening with Gov. Kemp’s two health care waivers? Cover Georgia has the latest on this handy timeline. See the latest developments on the Governor’s partial Medicaid expansion plan or his proposed changes to private health insurance.
REMINDER: LEARN ABOUT GEORGIA’S NEW
SURPRISE BILLING PROTECTIONS
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Find out how Georgia’s new surprise billing protections apply to you!
Georgia’s new Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act went into effect in January. Georgia is just the 16th state to have adopted comprehensive protections against surprise medical bills. GHF and Georgia Watch advocated for five years for this law that will protect an estimated 2.5 million Georgia residents from burdensome surprise medical bills. Learn more about how the new law protects you in our new factsheet here.
La Ley de Protección al Consumidor de Facturación Sorpresa entró en vigor en enero, lo que convierte a Georgia en el decimosexto estado que ha adoptado protecciones integrales contra facturas médicas inesperadas. Georgia Watch y Georgians for a Healthy Future abogaron durante cinco años por esta ley que protegerá a aproximadamente 2,5 millones de residentes de Georgia de costosas facturas médicas inesperadas. Si desea obtener más información sobre cómo lo protege la nueva ley, consulte nuestra nueva hoja informativa a continuación.
Learn how to advocate for mental health & substance use equity
The Georgia Health Action Network (GHAN) is BACK for a summer conversation! Join us this Tuesday, June 29th, 2021 at noon as we discuss how mental health & substance use have been covered unfairly by health insurers. You will learn why these inequities are important, and how they can be improved in Georgia. We will also discuss how health advocates like you can urge Georgia policy makers to hold insurance companies’ accountable for inequitable and unfair coverage of mental health & substance use needs.
Health officials ask for more public input on Gov. Kemp’s plan to block Georgians from the ACA’s health insurance marketplace
As GHF’s health policy analyst, Whitney Griggs, explains in a recent blog, a lot has changed since Gov. Kemp plan to cut ties with the ACA’s health insurance marketplace (healthcare.gov) was approved by the Trump administration. These recent changes have prompted federal health officials to ask for more information from Gov. Kemp about his plans. After Gov. Kemp provides the requested information, officials have said there will be a new public comment period so that Georgians and Georgia stakeholders can provide their feedback about the plan. That’s where you come in!
Health officials need to hear from you and Cover Georgia has made it easy to participate in the comment period. Click here to submit a comment now! We’ll hold on to your comment until the comment period opens (likely in early July) and then send it to health officials. Speak up for health care today!
Confused about what’s happening with Gov. Kemp’s two health care waivers? Cover Georgia has the latest on this handy timeline. See the latest developments on the Governor’s partial Medicaid expansion plan or his proposed changes to private health insurance.
RSVP FOR GIVE ‘EM HEALTH TRIVIA NIGHT!
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Join us as a sponsor, with a team, or on your own on Thursday, Aug. 26th!
GHF’s second annual Give ‘Em Health trivia night is coming on August 26, 2021! If you weren’t able to join us last year, you won’t want to miss out on the fun again this year. There are three great ways to participate so you can pick the one that works best for you:
Sponsor the event! Sponsors generously support GHF’s mission, lead and participate with a trivia team, and benefit from the recognition of their support in GHF’s communications & event materials!
Be a team captain! Invite 4 friends and register your team of 5 here today. Teams that register early will get a special “party pack” to enhance their trivia night fun.
Participate on your own! RSVP and GHF will place you on a team with other individuals. You’ll have a great time meeting new health advocates!
GHF is looking to fill two staff positions: Strategic Communications Manager and part-time Administrative Assistant. The Strategic Communications Manager will lead GHF’s communications, marketing, and public relations efforts. The Administrative Assistant will support day-to-day operations, office management, accounting, human resources, and other administrative functions. Both positions will work closely with the rest of the GHF team to build a healthy, equitable Georgia through policy change.
ABOUT GEORGIA’S NEW SURPRISE BILLING LAW &
THE ACA IS HERE TO STAY!
& MEDICAID EXPANSION
Find out how Georgia’s new surprise billing protections apply to you!
Georgia’s new Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act went into effect in January. Georgia is just the 16th state to have adopted comprehensive protections against surprise medical bills. GHF and Georgia Watch advocated for five years for this law that will protect an estimated 2.5 million Georgia residents from burdensome surprise medical bills. Learn more about how the new law protects you in our new factsheet here.
La Ley de Protección al Consumidor de Facturación Sorpresa entró en vigor en enero, lo que convierte a Georgia en el decimosexto estado que ha adoptado protecciones integrales contra facturas médicas inesperadas. Georgia Watch y Georgians for a Healthy Future abogaron durante cinco años por esta ley que protegerá a aproximadamente 2,5 millones de residentes de Georgia de costosas facturas médicas inesperadas. Si desea obtener más información sobre cómo lo protege la nueva ley, consulte nuestra nueva hoja informativa a continuación.
GHF celebrated the ruling and urged Georgia leaders to turn their attentions to making health care more affordable and closing Georgia’s coverage gap with Medicaid expansion:
“While we lament Gov. Kemp’s & Attorney General Carr’s support of and participation in this effort to overturn a law that benefits so many Georgians, we need to look forward. We hope that today’s decision will embolden Georgia lawmakers to build upon the success of the ACA and make improvements at the state level, such as fully expanding Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of hard-working Georgians who currently have no pathway to coverage. Deep inequalities and structural racism continue to exist in our health care system and the state must act now to ensure all Georgians have access to quality, affordable health coverage.”
Despite incredible challenges, the GHF team achieved tremendous success in 2020 and we’re excited to share these accomplishments with you! In our 2020 annual report, we tell the stories of three key initiatives, why your support mattered, and how our work moved Georgia towards a healthier, more equitable future!
We hope you will read and share GHF’s efforts to amplify the voices of Georgians on urgent health issues. We invite you to celebrate our 2020 accomplishments and supporting our continued efforts with a recurring or one-time donation. Thank you!
MEDICAID & DISABILITY: ONE FAMILY’S JOURNEY
Navigating health care and coverage in Georgia
Medicaid provides health insurance to many different Georgians. including those living with disabilities. Our latest blog features a first-hand account from a Georgia mother whose 9-year-old daughter, Amelia, is covered by Medicaid. Her daughter was diagnosed with Ataxic Cerebral Palsy at 18 months. Since her diagnosis, the two have navigated challenging care and coverage issues. Their experiences highlight a number of the policy and advocacy issues that GHF works hard to address: Medicaid, difficulty finding health care providers, the role of public health in Georgia, and support for caregivers.
If you’re looking to be on trend, healthy, and smart this summer then it’s time to talk about COVID-19 vaccines! In our latest blog, GHF’s Communications & Special Projects Manager, Michelle Conde shares her experience and why she recommends others get vaccinated too.
Visit our blog to read more about Michelle’s vaccination experience!
¡Visite nuestro blog para leer más sobre la experiencia de vacunación de Michelle!
New! Analysis from GHF on telehealth & broadband
Through our Georgians in the Driver’s Seat initiative, GHF and The Arc Georgia found that transportation and internet access are two closely related social determinants of health. When one or both are available, access to health care can be easy and when they are missing, Georgians struggle to access health services.
Medicaid expansion: For Georgia’s essential & rural workers
A new report from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families (CCF) adds more fuel to the push for Medicaid expansion in Georgia! CCF found that cashiers, cooks, maids and housekeeping staff, waiters/waitresses, and freight and stock laborers are among the most common jobs held by low-wage, uninsured Georgia workers. The report also features an interactive map showing that the rate of uninsured workers in each Georgia county and that rural counties would benefit from most from Medicaid expansion. Check it out at CoverGa.org and share!
Celebrate Medicaid Awareness Month by taking action!
Medicaid has been an integral part of Georgia’s health care system for 54 years. Over the last 16 months, Medicaid has stepped up to serve as a first responder during the COVID-19 pandemic. This incredible public health insurance program has helped our state weather the crisis, but it could do even more!
Our state leaders have a new opportunity to promote the health of Georgians across the state through Medicaid expansion. Under the recently passed American Rescue Plan, Georgia is eligible to receive a $1.3-$2 Billion bonus for finally expanding Medicaid coverage to low-income adults. This is a deal too good to pass up!
Don’t miss your chance to celebrate April as Medicaid Awareness Month and urge Georgia policy makers to expand on Medicaid’s successful legacy by taking action with us today!
Write a letter to the editor (LTE)
Your letter will spread the word in your community and to your state leaders (that’s right, they read these letters!) about Medicaid and the too-good-to-pass-up deal available to expand it. We have made it easy for you with these two tools:
Several sample LTEs that you can use to get started.. The samples cover these points of view: financial & economic benefits, promoting racial equity, addressing mental health & substance use, supporting children and families, and recovering from COVID-19.
Learn more about Medicaid. Find out who is already covered by Medicaid in Georgia, how Medicaid benefits our health care system, and much more with these resources:
Spread the word on social media! Share one of our Facebook or Twitter posts and let others know that it’s time to take action on Medicaid expansion!
WHO IS IMPACTED BY GEORGIA’S
HEALTH CARE TRANSPORTATION CRISIS
James and the need for change in Lamar County
Transportation is a fundamental building block for adequate access to health care. Each year millions of Americans miss or delay health care because they do not have a way to get there. Through the Georgians in the Driver’s Seat initiative, GHF has talked with folks around the state about their transportation needs and how it impacts their health.
Lamar County resident James has observed firsthand some of the gaps in Georgia’s Medicaid transportation system. Because of it’s inefficiencies, James’ elderly mother has to find other ways to get to and from her local senior center, which she attends to stay mentally and physically healthy.
“Transportation is an area that needs to be focused on, particularly in rural communities and, at least particularly for the special needs population and folks who may not have resources and have some socio-economic challenges” said James about the transportation issues and potential solutions in his county and throughout Georgia.
Changes in health care and policy in the 2021 legislative session
Following the close of Georgia’s 2021 legislative session, Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute hosted a wrap-up conversation to highlight the session’s most important health-related outcomes. Special guest Representative Matthew Wilson joined in to tell us how the legislature’s work will impact your health, health care, and health coverage. If you missed this great discussion, it is available now on GHF’s Facebook page!
An essential conversation on COVID, Medicaid, & Disability with GHF and Rev Up Georgia!
This dynamic session provided participants with a better understanding of COVID-19’s impact and the role of Medicaid on Georgia’s disability community. Led and facilitated by Georgians with disabilities, the discussion centered their perspectives on health advocacy, today’s most important health policy issues, how they are stepping up to be leaders in their communities, and how you can too! If you missed it, visit GHF’s Facebook page to watch it on demand!
NEW AT GHF!
GHF welcomes Amir Jones to Board of Directors
GHF recently welcomed Amir Jones to the Board of Directors! From his years as an advocate for health care access, Amir brings a breadth of experience and expertise that will inform and guide GHF’s work over his term of service. Join us in welcoming Amir to the board! Learn more about GHF’s Board of Directors and Staff on our website.
Georgia’s 2021 legislative session is set to wrap up tonight! Today is the final day of session, also called “Sine Die”. You can find a full list of health related legislation, including whether or not a bill is still awaiting a final vote, at GHF’s legislative tracker here. You can also follow the live House & Senate debates and votes here at legis.ga.gov.
GHF will send our next legislative update this Friday with a run-down of which health bills made it over the finish line before the General Assembly gaveled out. You can find a full list of health related legislation at GHF’s legislative tracker.
A DEAL TOO GOOD TO PASS UP
Tell state leaders to take the best deal for all Georgians
Our state leaders have a new opportunity to promote the health of Georgians across the state! Under the recently passed American Rescue Plan, Georgia is eligible to receive a $1.3 Billion incentive for expanding Medicaid coverage to low-income adults. The new funding covers the costs of Medicaid expansion and leaves $710 million available to spend on other state priorities.
Your friends and family, and our state leaders need to know about this exciting deal so our state can take advantage of it! Last week Cover Georgia placed these full-page ads in newspapers across the state to let our elected leaders know that Medicaid expansion is a deal too good to pass up.
Over 500,000 Georgians remainuninsured, rural hospitals continue to close, and our health care system struggles to keep up because Georgia leaders have refused to expand Medicaid. It’s time to close Georgia’s coverage gap, extend health coverage to half a million Georgians, and accelerate Georgia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Share the Cover Georgia ad and the new CoverGA.org/GoodDeal page with your elected officials. Let them know that Medicaid expansion is the best deal for Georgia!
HAPPENING NOW! COVID-19 VACCINES & HEALTH INSURANCE
All Georgians 16+ now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine!
Last week all Georgia residents 16 years and older became eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. COVID-19 vaccines protect you from getting seriously ill and keep your loved ones safe from catching the virus. Here are a few resources to help you schedule your vaccine appointment:
Georgia Dept of Public Health COVID-19 vaccine scheduling & resource line: (888) 457-0186
Starting tomorrow: Thousands of Georgians newly eligible for discounted health insurance at healthcare.gov
Most Georgians who qualify for health insurance and financial help through the Affordable Care Act (or “Obamacare”) are still uninsured. Help us spread the word!
Healthcare.gov is open now and starting tomorrow, April 1st, Georgians qualify for new discounts on their coverage thanks to the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Georgians can shop for and enroll in affordable, quality health plans now through August 15, 2021.
With the ARP’s added financial help, 127,000 uninsured, middle-income Georgians are eligible for discounts that lower their health insurance costs. Another 134,900 uninsured Georgians with low or modest incomes qualify for lower or zero-dollar ($0) premiums who enroll in plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.
GHF welcomes new Health Policy Analyst and Organizing Manager
This month, GHF welcomed Whitney Griggs as our new Health Policy Analyst and Knetta Adkins as our new Organizing Manager.
Whitney will lead GHF’s research, data, and policy analysis work so that GHF remains evidence-based and data-driven. Knetta will build and grow GHF’s outreach and organizing efforts, keeping GHF in touch with the most important health care stakeholders—Georgia’s health care consumers.
GHF joins partners to address medical billing & collections practices at Southwest Georgia hospitals
In partnership with Georgia Watch and SOWEGA Rising, GHF is pleased to announce our participation in the Community Benefit and Economic Stability Project (new link). The focus of this initiative is to work with community groups and local health care providers to address local needs around medical billing and debt in southwest Georgia. This project is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Georgia team will receive technical assistance from Community Catalyst.
Three out of four Georgia counties found to be health transportation shortage areas
Through our Georgians in the Driver’s Seat initiative, GHF and The Arc Georgia examined how transportation impacts access to health care in Georgia. In the first of two reports, GHF looks at data about each Georgia county to examine where Georgians may face the highest hurdles getting to and from health services because of transportation shortages. Our analysis suggests Georgians in most counties face some transportation-related barriers. GHF paired the analysis with input from consumers and health care providers to offer recommendations for policy solutions.
Check out your county’s results and learn how Georgia advocates, policy makers, and community members can work together to eliminate transportation as a barrier to health and health care!
Stay tuned for our follow-up report on the intersection of internet access, transportation, and health care!
GOVERNOR’S HEALTH CARE PLAN HITS ROADBLOCK
Federal government rolls back approval of Gov. Kemp’s partial Medicaid expansion plan
Healthcare.gov is open for a special enrollment period from February 15 to May 15, 2021. Georgians have another chance to shop for quality, affordable health plans and enroll in coverage. Nine out of ten Georgians qualify for financial help to lower their premiums and other costs! Most Georgians who qualify for health insurance & financial help through the Affordable Care Act (also called “Obamacare”) are still uninsured. So help us spread the word!
If you need help figuring out if you qualify, how much financial help you can get, or have other questions, contact our partners at the Georgia Primary Care Association. Their help is free and unbiased:
Online help is here. Scroll to the bottom of the page to fill out the form for help
By phone: 1-844-442-7421
If you or your loved ones need more information about how health insurance works, what to do after you have signed up, and more, GHF has you covered! Check out GHF’s Get Help with Health Insurancelibrary so you and yours get covered and stay covered.
2021 legislative session crosses half-way point
The Georgia legislative session is more than half-way over, but there is still plenty of opportunity for consumer-driven health policies to be approved by legislators! You can view a full list of the health legislation that we are tracking here. Here are a few of the bills we are currently monitoring and supporting:
SB 80, the Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act, is sponsored by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick and aims to increase access to care by putting common sense guardrails around prior authorization. (Learn more about prior authorization in our February 8th legislative update.) The Senate Insurance Committee approved SB 80 this week.
HB 163, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Cooper, directs Georgia’s Medicaid program to adopt “express lane” eligibility for kids who qualify for Medicaid coverage. The change would make it easier for uninsured Georgia kids who already qualify for Medicaid to enroll and stay covered. The House passed HB 163 earlier this month and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved it this week.
SB 172, sponsored by Sen. Gloria Butler, would allow Georgia to fully expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Georgia is one of only 12 states that continues to reject federal money to cover low-income adults. Medicaid expansion would cover more than 500,000 Georgians. SB 172 has not yet been considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
NEW AT GHF!
GHF joins Voices for Health Justice project to build health advocacy capacity in Southwest Georgia
In the Georgia Voices for Health Justice project, GHF and our project partners at Georgia Equality and the New Georgia Project will work with Black and brown community members in Southwest Georgia. Using a leadership development model, community members will learn health advocacy and organizing skills so they are prepared to lead effective community-driven advocacy that improves health outcomes and builds racial equity.
GHF’s donor self-service portal puts you in charge
When you give to GHF, you guarantee that our organization can effectively organize and amplify the voices of Georgia health care consumers now and in the future!
Donors to GHF can now use our new donor self-service portal (just below our existing donation form) to manage your donations, and update your payment and contact information. Your supporter account makes it easier for you to ensure your gifts are having the biggest impact at GHF. Thank you for your support and for helping GHF make a difference! Not yet a donor to GHF?You can give a one-time or monthly donation here!
SIGN UP SO YOU CAN GET IN LINE FOR YOUR VACCINES
Georgia Governor and Department of Public Health debut new website to register for COVID-19 vaccination
Last week, Governor Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) announced a new website where Georgians can pre-register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible Georgians can book appointments through MyVaccineGeorgia.com and those who are not yet eligible can sign up to be notified when they become eligible.
Current vaccine priority list:
Front-line health care workers
Residents of long-term care facilities (like nursing homes)
Adults over the age of 65
First responders, including law enforcement and firefighters
Thanks to you, GHF’s 11th annual Health Care Unscrambled was a huge success! We were thrilled to have so many advocates, policy makers, health care providers, and public health professionals join us for this year’s virtual event!
HCU 2021 sessions available on-demand!
Not a morning person? Had another meeting during one of this year’s Health Care Unscrambled sessions? No worries! Recordings of each session are available in our digital program now. Our digital program also features photos, slides, and materials from each session for your convenience.
Ask your local public health officials to prioritize equity when giving out the COVID-19 vaccine
Communities of color, low-income families & individuals, immigrant communities, and rural areas in Georgia have been hardest hit by COVID-19. In order for Georgia to successfully and effectively recover from COVID-19, our state needs a vaccine distribution plan that prioritizes equity and puts the communities hit hardest at the front of the line.
Ask your legislator to commit to Medicaid expansion!
Over 560,000 Georgians are still waiting for Georgia leaders to make the right choice and expand Medicaid. State leaders can expand Medicaid at any time and we are asking them to publicly commit to doing just that in 2021! By expanding the Medicaid health insurance program, thousands more Georgians would gain health coverage and access to care if they become sick without the worry of unaffordable medical bills afterward. Georgia is one of only 12 states that have not yet done the right thing by expanding Medicaid. Our legislators can make 2021 a brighter, healthier year for all Georgians! Ask state leaders to make a New Year’s resolution for Medicaid expansion today.
THE GHF TEAM IS GROWING!
GHF welcomes three new board members
Chastity Walker, Jenny Besse, and Abbie Fuksman have all joined the GHF Board of Directors! These three board members bring a breadth of experience and knowledge that will help to inform and guide GHF’s work over their terms of service. Join us in welcoming our new board members and learn more about GHF’s Board of Directors and Staff on our website.
GHF is hiring a full-time Organizing Manager!
You can join the GHF team by applying to be our new Organizing Manager! The Organizing Manager will be responsible for directing collaborative coalition strategies and leading outreach, education, & organizing initiatives directly with Georgia consumers. The Organizing Manager will work closely with the rest of the GHF team to advance policies that foster a healthy, equitable Georgia. Please visit GHF’s Employment Opportunities page for more information about this position and how to apply.
We wish you a happy, healthy holiday season! We hope you are planning to stay home, spend time with the loved ones in your own household, and wear a mask this season. We look forward to seeing you in a brighter, healthier 2021!
Ask your local public health officials to prioritize equity for the COVID-19 vaccine
Communities of color, low-income families & individuals, immigrant communities, and rural areas in Georgia have been hardest hit by COVID-19. However, news of effective vaccines and the early roll-outs give us hope that this pandemic will end next year. In order for Georgia to successfully and effectively recover from COVID-19, our state needs a vaccine distribution plan that prioritizes equity and puts the communities hit hardest at the front of the line.
Your local public health officials are making a lot of specific decisions about how vaccines will be distributed in the coming months. You have the chance to influence those decisions now! Ask your local PH district and county PH department to hold virtual public meetings to present their plans, including how racial equity is integrated into the plan, and get public input. Contact your public health officials today!
Be an advocate for you, your loved ones, and your community as we navigate the effects of COVID-19. Explore and share these links so you know how to access health care when you need to, what to expect from your health insurance during COVID-19, and how to find resources so your other basic needs are taken care of.
Voters’ decisions about Georgia’s U.S. Senate candidates will have a tangible and long-term impact on our state’s recovery from COVID-19, health costs and insurance, and other important consumer health issues in Georgia. Before voting in the run-off period (Dec. 14 to Jan. 5), Georgians have the opportunity to learn more how Georgia’s U.S. Senators impact our health and well-being in GHF’s latest blog: A consumer health advocates guide to the 2020 elections: U.S. Senate. Read, share, and make a plan to vote before January 5th!
RINGING IN 2021 WITH SURPRISE BILLING PROTECTIONS
& HEALTH CARE UNSCRAMBLED!
Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act becomes effective January 1, 2021
This yearGeorgians for a Healthy Future and our partners at Georgia Watch led the effort to pass Georgia’s new comprehensive surprise billing law. Georgia is now the 16th state to have adopted comprehensive protections against surprise medical bills. The new law will allow 2.5 million Georgians to access health services without the worry of being hit by expensive and unfair medical bills after the fact. The Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act becomes effective January 1, 2021.
Kick off the new year in health advocacy at Health Care Unscrambled 2021!
Please join Georgians for a Healthy Future for our 11th annual Health Care Unscrambled, with a virtual twist!
Join us online January 7, 8, and 14 for this special opportunity to discuss how the 2020 elections will shape 2021’s health policy and advocacy landscape; lessons learned about the social determinants of health during the COVID-19 pandemic; and how the imperative of racial equity shapes the work of health advocates.
In recognition of these tough economic times, we are offering this year’s program at no cost to individual attendees. For those who can afford it, we hope you will consider donating $10 for each session you plan to attend or register as a sponsor.
JOIN THE GHF TEAM
GHF is hiring a Health Policy Analyst!
GHF is hiring for a full-time Health Policy Analyst! The Health Policy Analyst will support GHF’s public policy and advocacy work across a spectrum of health policy issues, including Medicaid, private market health insurance reforms (including the Affordable Care Act), delivery system reform, health equity, and public health.
An essential conversation about your health care with GHF and 9to5
Last week GHF’s Alyssa Green and 9to5’s Mica Whitfield held a FaceBook Live conversation, Governor Kemp’s health care plans approved: What do they mean for you?They talked about Governor Kemp’s recently approved health care plans which will change Georgians’ access to Medicaid and private insurance. Alyssa and Mica helped viewers understand when these plans will take effect, who will be impacted, and what you can do to help Georgians get and stay covered. If you missed the conversation you can catch up on 9to5’s Facebook page or check out our blog on the topic.
GHF recognized as 2020 Speak Up for Better Health Award Honoree
This year Community Catalyst’s Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation recognized organizations who have maintained their work creating a consumer-centered health system in the face of COVID19. Georgians for a Healthy Future and The Arc Georgia were recognized for our Georgians in the Driver’s Seat project which aims to eliminate transportation and internet access as barriers to health care for Georgians. We are humbled and proud to receive this recognition with our partners at The Arc Georgia and alongside the other deserving honorees.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Thank you for support!
Thank you for choosing GHF on Giving Tuesday! Your generous donations warm our hearts, and help us mobilize health advocates across the state in support of policies & laws that promote Georgia’s health and wellness. Advocacy is year-round work. Your support is essential for GHF to remain a strong, responsive voice for Georgians and their famliies. Thank you!
If you didn’t get a chance to donate and can afford to, it’s not too late! Consider becoming a monthly donor and let GHF know we can count on you for the long haul!
Choose GHF on Amazon Smile
This holiday season you can support GHF while you shop online. Amazon Smile will donate a small percent of your eligible purchases to Georgians for a Healthy Future at no extra cost to you. All you have to do is sign up and shop at smile.amazon.com. It’s an easy way to support GHF through the holidays and all year! To learn more and sign up, click here.
Healthcare.gov is open for business until December 15, 2020. Georgians can shop now for comprehensive, affordable health plans and enroll in coverage. Nine out of 10 Georgians qualify for financial help to lower their premiums and other costs! Don’t miss your chance to get enrolled for 2021 today!
Already enrolled? Ask your friends and family if they have coverage and encourage them to get enrolled before the Dec. 15th deadline.
Have questions? Learn about how health insurance works, how to enroll in coverage, or what to do after you have signed up with these tools from GHF:
GHF examined the data about Georgia’s 2020 marketplace for our annual Getting Georgia Covered report. We found rising enrollment, lower premiums, and increased choices for consumers. This annual release tells the story of how Georgia individuals and families are faring in the health insurance marketplace. Explore this year’s interactive, digital report for more about Georgia’s 2020 marketplace, how it differed from previous years, who enrolled, the costs of coverage, and policy opportunities to enhance the marketplace and better serve Georgia consumers.
POLITICS, POSSIBILITIES, & POLICY AT HCU2021
Announcing the Politics, Possibilities, & Policy panel
Supported by Hemophilia of Georgia
GHF is excited to announce our first Health Care Unscrambled 2021 virtual session! Join us on January 7th at 8:30 am for th two-part Politics, Possibilities, & Policy session!
This session will begin with a discussion about the results of the 2020 elections and their impact on the national and Georgia health policy landscapes. A second panel, made up of two leading state legislators, will discuss the outlook for the state budget & health-related legislation during the 2021 Georgia legislative session. Join these great guests on January 7th:
Citseko Staples, Director, State and Local Campaigns, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Emily Barson, Executive Director, United States of Care
Moderated by Elise Blasingame, a Georgia Trend’s 2020 40 under 40 leader
House Health & Human Services Chair Sharon Cooper, HD 43 (Marietta)
Representative Jasmine Clark, HD 108 (Lilburn)
Moderated by Laura Colbert, Executive Director, Georgians for a Healthy Future
RSVP today to attend Politics, Possibilities, & Policy on Thursday, January 7 at 8:30 am!
Health Care Repeal Lawsuit heard by U.S. Supreme Court
Earlier this month Georgia and 17 other states asked the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act. The Health Care Repeal Lawsuit (also known as California v. Texas) jeopardizes the health of millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Georgians. The ACA remains in effect while this lawsuit is pending, and a decision from the Court is expected in the spring of 2021.
Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr have supported the case since its start in February 2018. They have the ability to withdraw their support at any time.
The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has had an impact on financial stressors, the difficulties of parenting, and almost universal uncertainty and have dramatically increased depression, anxiety, stress, and substance use among Georgians. Some will seek supports and services to manage their health, which may be provided in part by certified peer specialists. Our newest blog, Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies: Get to know Georgia’s Certified Peer Specialistsdescribes the unique position and qualifications that certified peer specialists provide in Georgia.
Certified peer specialists (CPS) provide support and education to individuals and families while they navigate mental health and/or substance use recovery supports and services. CPS have played a vital role in Georgia’s mental health and substance use recovery systems for over 20 years.
HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Can we count on you? Giving Tuesday is December 1st!
GHF is asking for your support on Giving Tuesday! Giving Tuesday will take place in one week, on Tuesday, December 1. If you can afford to donate, we hope that GHF is among the non-profits that you support!
Your support of GHF:
Activates health advocates across the state in support of policies that promote Georgia’s health and wellness;
Sends the stories of Georgia individuals and families, and the best available data, to Georgia leaders to inform their decision making; and
Brings together partner groups to collectively advocate for strong consumer protections in public and private health insurance, Medicaid expansion, and the many other policies that are necessary to an strong, effective pandemic response
Donate now or on Giving Tuesday! To ensure that Georgians for a Healthy Future can remain a strong, responsive voice for all Georgians now and in the future, consider becoming a monthly donor. Thank you!
Choose GHF on Amazon Smile
This holiday season you can support GHF while you shop online. Amazon Smile will donate a small percent of your eligible purchases to Georgians for a Healthy Future. All you have to do is sign up and shop at smile.amazon.com. It’s an easy way to support GHF through the holidays and all year! To learn more and sign up, click here.
Our annual Health Care Unscrambled event is a special, annual opportunity for health advocates and stakeholders to hear from state policymakers about what they plan to tackle in the year ahead, to learn about emerging health policy issues from nationally-renowned experts, and to better understand the health experiences of Georgia consumers. Because of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, GHF’s 2021 Health Care Unscrambled will take place virtually with sessions on January 7, 8, and 14th.
In recognition of these tough economic times, we are offering this year’s program at no cost to individual attendees. For those who can afford it, we hope you will consider donating $10 for each session you plan to attend or a sponsorship.
Healthcare.gov opens for business this Sunday, November 1st! Consumers can browse available plans now and enroll in affordable, comprehensive coverage from November 1 to December 15, 2020. Nine out of 10 Georgians qualify for financial help to afford their plan. If you are one of the many Georgians who have lost a job or health coverage this year, now is the time to shop and get covered!
Follow GHF on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn and share messages about the opportunity to gain health insurance, the availability of financial assistance, and how to find enrollment help.
Georgians deserve better!
Tell state leaders the Governor’s plan falls short and Georgians need Medicaid expansion
State and federal leaders announced this month the approval of Governor Kemp’s proposal to bypass Medicaid expansion and the likely approval of his proposal to reshape Georgia’s private insurance market. When given the opportunity to weigh in on these plans, Georgians overwhelmingly said that they prefer a full Medicaid expansion and do not want to separate from the ACA marketplace.
Georgia’s approved Medicaid plan will expand coverage to only a fraction of low-income, uninsured Georgians. Despite steep job losses due to the pandemic, Georgia adults could only apply for and enroll in Medicaid coverage if they can prove they work (or do other government-approved activities) at least half-time.
A consumer health advocates guide to the 2020 elections
As this year’s election season peaks, Georgians have the opportunity to learn more about the elected positions on their ballots, the decision-making power each has, and how each impacts the health and well-being of Georgians. Voters’ decisions about this fall’s candidates up and down the ballot will have an unprecedented impact on our state’s COVID-19 response, other immediate consumer health issues, and long-term well-being in Georgia. Our Consumer Health Advocates Guide to the 2020 Elections blog series helps you understand the role that elected officials play in your health care and coverage. Read the series before you head to the polls:
The last day to cast your vote is this Tuesday, November 3, 2020! Don’t miss your chance to be a #HealthCareVoter!
*GHF is a non-partisan, 501(c)3 organization. We do not endorse or support any candidates or political party.
GHF supports community health workers
GHF joins Community Voices for Health to support Georgia’s community health workers
Community Voices for Health – Georgia is a new initiative led by Georgia Watch, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgians for a Healthy Future, and Georgia ACT with support from the Rober Wood Johnson Foundation. The focus of this initiative is to develop and strengthen engagement in health advocacy among Georgia’s community health workers (CHWs.) CHWs’ relationships with community members allow them to serve as liaisons between health care, social services, and communities in need. While advocacy and engagement are essential to this role, many CHWs lack the training or support to be as effective as possible. GHF and our project partners are working to address this gap by building the capacity of Georgia’s community health workers to engage in effective community organizing and civic advocacy through training, technical assistance, and peer learning. Check out this blog from Public Agenda for more about this exciting work.
Join our mission
Your chance to join GHF’s board of directors!
Are you interested in shaping a healthy and more equitable future for all Georgians? GHF’s Board of Directors is seeking passionate and experienced advocates to join our mission. This is your opportunity to raise your voice, connect with like-minded people, and use your unique skills to make a difference on the health issues that matter most to you! We are especially interested in applicants with legal, financial/accounting, and human resources expertise. Visit GHF’s volunteer page to let us know why you would make a great addition to our Board of Directors!
Tune in to the Southerners for Medicaid Expansion digital vigil
Georgia has come together with our Southern state peers for a new initiative called Southerners For Medicaid Expansion. Together we are calling for Medicaid expansion across our region as a powerful way to address racial disparities, effectively address COVID-19, and support rural hospitals and their communities.
Over 1,000 comments submitted to protect Georgians’ health care!
In August and September, we asked you (for the final time, we think) to weigh in on Governor Kemp’s plans to remake Georgia’s private health insurance system. You did it again! By last week’s deadline, Georgians submitted 1085 comments telling federal health officials that they do not support Gov. Kemp’s plan to dismantle healthcare.gov and leave consumers at the mercy of for-profit insurance companies. Thank you for speaking up!
Federal health officials will now review Governor Kemp’s health care plan and by mid-February, will decide whether or not to approve it. GHF and the Cover Georgia coalition will keep you updated on the latest developments and action opportunities. Stay tuned!
Georgians in the Driver’s Seat wants to hear from you
Fill out our updated survey for a chance to win!
Georgians experiencing some of the biggest challenges getting to and from health care services rely on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). NEMT is a free service for Medicaid members who do not have their own means of transportation to get to health appointments and services. The program is especially important for people with disabilities, seniors, rural residents, and people of color, but sometimes it falls short of its promise.
In order to ensure NEMT works well for all Georgians who need it, we need to hear from the people who already use it! We updated the Georgians in the Driver’s Seat survey for the COVID-19 world, when transportation challenges may look different than they used to. Your responses help our team understand how we can best fight for a better NEMT system.
By filling out our newly updated survey you will be entered in a weekly drawing to win a $20 gift card. Enter the drawing at the end of the survey.
Know before you go!
A consumer health advocates guide to the 2020 elections
As this year’s election season begins (now through November 3, 2020!), Georgians have the opportunity to learn more about the elected positions on their ballots, the decision-making power each has, and how each impacts the health and well-being of Georgians. Voters’ decisions about this fall’s candidates up and down the ballot will have an unprecedented impact on our state’s COVID-19 response, other immediate consumer health issues, and long-term well-being in Georgia. Our Consumer Health Advocates Guide to the 2020 Elections blog series helps you understand the role that elected officials play in your health care and coverage. Read the series before you head to the polls:
*GHF is a non-partisan, 501(c)3 organization. We do not endorse or support any candidates or political party.
You are (virtually) invited!
Don’t miss GHF’s next Georgia Voices for Medicaid event!
Join Georgians for a Healthy Future and The Arc of Southwest Georgia on Wednesday, October 14th from 1-2 PM for the Georgia Voices for Medicaid community event. You will leave the interactive session with a better understanding of Medicaid and the role it plays for Georgians and in our health system. You will also develop skills to be an effective health care advocate and learn about resources to keep you up-to-date on the latest health advocacy opportunities in Georgia. This event will take place virtually. To attend, RSVP below and complete the pre-survey (it tells us if we’re doing our jobs well)!
The Governor’s newly-revised plan is made up of two parts:
1. Reinsurance—which would help to lower premiums for health plans sold on through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace (healthcare.gov) starting in 2022; and
2. The Georgia Access model—which would block Georgia consumers from the most widely-used and preferred way to shop for and buy health coverage and instead force Georgians to go through profit-driven insurance companies and web brokers
Georgians with mental health or substance use conditions at risk under the Gov.’s plan
For the next few weeks, GHF & our Cover Georgia partners will be spotlighting some of the impacts that Governor Kemp’s plan will have on certain groups of Georgians. This week we are drawing attention to the significant risks posed by this proposal to Georgians with mental health and substance use disorders. The plan is likely to reduce access to MH and SU services, leaving Georgians with even fewer ways to get to find or maintain recovery. Learn more at CoverGA.org and check back weekly for more!
Get Your Tickets!
Give ‘Em Health trivia night kicks off Sept. 15th!
Our first-ever Give ‘Em Health trivia night is coming up in just a few short weeks! On Tuesday, September 15th, we promise a fun evening of friendly competition and fellowship, if you promise not to cheat by Googling the answers! In addition to supporting GHF’s advocacy for a healthier, more equitable Georgia, your trivia night ticket opens the (virtual) door to:
Mind-bending questions about health, politics, Georgia, and popular culture!
Special appearances by your favorite health advocacy celebrities!
Prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams!
We have taken this event fully virtual to protect the health of all event attendees, but this won’t be another boring Zoom meeting. RSVP today and invite your friends to join your team!
A Consumer Health Advocates Guide to the 2020 Elections
Elections of state senators & representatives are consequential for Georgia’s health
GHF is pleased to present our Consumer Health Advocates Guide to the 2020 Elections blog series!
This November Georgians will cast their votes for a state senator and representative to represent their local community in Georgia’s General Assembly for the next two years. Voters’ decisions about the candidates in these race will shape state laws related to health and health care, determine how state money is spent to keep Georgians healthy, and influence Georgia’s response to COVID-19 and the resulting economic recession. Despite being little known, Georgia’s state senators and representatives have real-life and consequential impacts on the health of our state. Learn about how your state legislators influence the health of your community in our new blog. Look for more blogs in this series in the coming weeks!
*GHF is a non-partisan, 501(c)3 organization. We do not endorse or support any candidates or political party.
Georgia Featured on Southern Storyteller Spotlight
GHF & advocates across the South launch new campaign for Medicaid expansion
Georgia is one of only 12 states that have yet to expand Medicaid so that low-income adults can have health insurance coverage. Georgia and seven other non-expansion states spanning the Southern U.S. have come together for a campaign called Southerners For Medicaid Expansion!
Last week GHF hosted Georgia’s Southern Storyteller Spotlight with Dr. Karen Kinsell of Clay County, Georgia as part of the Southerners for Medicaid Expansion campaign. Alyssa Green, spoke with Dr. Kinsell about the realities of health care in rural South Georgia, the difficulties faced by her neighbors and patients, and how Medicaid expansion is a vital part of building a prosperous, healthy future for rural communities. If you missed this great discussion, it is available now on GHF’s Facebook page!
Stay tuned for more events and advocacy opportunities in our Southerners for Medicaid Expansion campaign!
Join Our Mission
Your chance to join GHF’s board of directors!
Are you interested in shaping a healthy and more equitable future for all Georgians? GHF’s Board of Directors is seeking passionate and experienced advocates to join our mission. This is your opportunity to raise your voice, connect with like-minded people, and use your unique skills to make a difference on the health issues that matter most to you! Visit GHF’s volunteer page to let us know why you would make a great addition to our Board of Directors!
Join GHF for Give ‘Em Health trivia night on September 15th!
Our first-ever Give ‘Em Health trivia night is an exciting, energetic event that will bring together GHF friends and supporters for a health-themed trivia extravaganza. Join us on September 15, 2020 as we gather online for an evening of fun, friendly competition and some of the most topical health trivia we can come up with.
Give ‘Em Health trivia night will feature two rounds of mind-bending questions, special appearances by well-known guests, and healthy prizes for the top teams!
We have taken this event fully virtual to protect the health of all event attendees, but this won’t be another boring Zoom meeting. GHF’s dynamic trivia hosts will provide the music, fun, and entertainment that you expect from an in-person event! RSVP today and invite your friends to join your team!
Join us in celebrating the 55th anniversary of Medicaid!
Thursday, July 30, 2020 marks the 55th anniversary of Medicaid! The public health insurance program covers half of Georgia kids, half of births in the state, and three out of four Georgians in long-term care (like nursing homes). Without Medicaid, low-income Georgia families would have almost no way to enroll in health coverage. Now, the program is proving even more important as our state battles the coronavirus. Medicaid is key to Georgia’s COVID-19 response because it is one of the fastest ways for the federal government to send resources to Georgia and health care providers struggling to meet the needs of Georgia patients and families.
Here are four ways you can celebrate with us and support Medicaid on its 55th birthday:
Last month, GHF welcomed Lois Hairston as its new Story Collection Coordinator. In this role, Lois will work to collect, develop, and amplify the stories of Georgia individuals and families so that their voices are heard as state leaders make decisions that impact their health. We are so pleased to have Lois join the GHF team. You can visit our website for more on Lois and for her contact information.
Welcome Lois by sharing your health story!
Your story is one of the most powerful tools available as we advocate for the health and wellness of Georgians. Sharing your real life experiences can shape the decisions made by Georgia’s leaders about the state’s response to COVID-19 and the economic recovery, Medicaid expansion, and a host of other health issues. If you are uninsured, recently lost your insurance, have sought COVID-19 testing or treatment, are caring for a loved one who is sick, or have another health care story to share, tell us a little bit about your experience here. Then Lois will get in touch to learn more. Thank you for your generous input!
Thank you for speaking up!
511 comments made about Gov. Kemp’s plan to dismantle healthcare.gov
Three times now, we have asked you to be a health care hero by telling officials what you think of Governor Kemp’s plans to forgo Medicaid expansion and to erode consumer protections in private insurance. And once again you came through! By last Thursday’s deadline, 511 Georgians told health officials that they do not support Gov. Kemp’s plan to dismantle healthcare.gov and leave consumers at the mercy of for-profit insurance companies. Thank you for speaking up!
Governor Kemp’s health care plan will now be sent to federal health officials who will ask for your input at least once more in the coming months.
Wrapping up the 2020 Georgia legislative session
Legislators join GHF to recap the 2020 Georgia legislative session
Following the close of the 2020 legislative session, Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute hosted a wrap-up conversation to highlight the session’s most important health-related outcomes. Special guests Senator Chuck Hufstetler and Representative Kim Schofield joined in to tell us how the legislature’s work will impact your health, health care, and health coverage. If you missed this great discussion, it is available now on GHF’s Facebook page!
After five years of persistent advocacy about the heavy toll of surprise medical bills on consumers, Georgia has adopted comprehensive new protections that safeguard consumers’ wallets and access to care. On July 16th, Governor Kemp signed the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act into law! Georgians for a Healthy Future and our partners at Georgia Watch are proud to have played a role in the adoption of this important consumer policy. Georgia is now the 16th state to adopt comprehensive protections against surprise medical bills, covering an estimated 2.5 million Georgia residents.
Updated weekly: Helping you manage COVID-19
GHF has new and updated resources to help you manage during the COVID-19 pandemic
GHF is dedicated to helping you understand and navigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out these links for the most up-to-date information and resources.
Your health coverage, care, and well-being— easy-to-understand information about how to access health services, what to expect from your health insurance coverage if you need COVID-19 testing and treatment, and how to meet your and your family’s basic needs (housing, food, etc.)
Earlier this month you helped GHF and other non-profits celebrate #GivingTuesdayNow as we collectively respond to COVID-19! As the voice for Georgia’s health care consumers, GHF advocates for the state policies and systems that are essential for a strong, effective response to the pandemic. GHF will continue our efforts to protect and promote your health and well-being as the pandemic and its economic fallout evolve.
The generosity of our donors has already contributed to a healthier, more equitable Georgia! The highlights of GHF’s 2019 work and the difference it makes for Georgia individuals and families is captured in our first-ever annual report! Download the report to find out how your donations mobilized community members, made pressing health issues visible in the media, and fostered collaboration with decision-makers and partner groups to achieve change for all Georgians.
Commenters are 9-to-1 opposed to Governor Kemp’s Medicaid Waiver
During a FaceBook Live conversation about the Outnumbered report last week, nationally-recognized Medicaid expert Joan Alker said, “A state like Georgia is tying one arm behind its back in responding to this pandemic by not picking up the Medicaid expansion because of Medicaid’s role as a first responder…the pandemic has laid bare the urgency and moral imperative with the kind of disparities that are shocking and just ripping our country apart.”
When state leaders reconvene at the state Capitol next month, they have the opportunity to take action on the issue. Ask Gov. Kemp and your state legislators to take swift action to expand Medicaid today!
Share the Outnumbered report with your family, friends, and social networks and ask them to take action for Medicaid expansion today!
Updated weekly: Helping you manage COVID-19
GHF has new and updated resources to help you manage during the COVID-19 pandemic
GHF is dedicated to helping you understand and navigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out these links for the most up-to-date information and resources.
Your health coverage, care, and well-being— provides easy-to-understand information and links about how to access health services, what to expect from your health insurance coverage if you need COVID-19 testing and treatment, and how to meet your and your family’s basic needs
COVID-19 Policy Priorities for a Healthy Georgia — tracks state and federal actions needed to successfully overcome the current public health crisis and protect the economic well-being of Georgians
Your story is one of the most powerful tools available as we advocate for the health and wellness of Georgians. Sharing your real-life experiences can shape the decisions made by Georgia’s leaders about the state’s response to this crisis and our economic recovery. If you are uninsured, recently lost your insurance, have sought COVID-19 testing or treatment, are caring for a loved one who is sick, or have another health care story to share, we want to hear from you. Thank you for your generous input!
Community health workers, we need you!
Support your CHW peers by joining the Community Advisory Board
The COVID-19 emergency, particularly the disease’s impact on communities of color, has drawn attention to the unequal health experiences that Community Health Workers (CHWs) encounter daily in their work. As part of the new Community Voices for Health— Georgia (CVHG) project, Georgia Watch, GHF, and our project partners are launching a Community Advisory Board to support CHWs’ efforts to make a difference in their communities through civic engagement and advocacy.
The CVHG project team is seeking five interested CHWs to join the Community Advisory Board. The Board will guide and advise the CVHG project so that it meets the real needs of CHWs and the communities they serve.
Thank you to everyone who continues to do their part to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19 by staying home! By staying home and following physical distancing guidelines you are actively helping to defeat this disease and protect Georgia’s essential workers. Even as Georgia moves to “re-open,” we encourage you to continue to fight COVID-19 by staying home if you have the option.
So that you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy, don’t forget about these other healthy habits:
1. Avoid group gatherings and crowded businesses
2. Stay at least 6 feet away from people who do not live with you (That’s about 2 arm lengths!)
3. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, faucet handles, and phones
7. Do not swallow, eat, or otherwise put any disinfectant or other cleaning product inside your body. If someone you know ingests a cleaning product, call the Georgia Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222
Get Tested: Georgia has expanded who qualifies for a COVID-19 test
GHF remains committed to bringing you useable information and resources during this pandemic. Here are a few updates that you may find helpful:
People with symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste and/or smell.
Healthcare workers, first responders, and other critical infrastructure workers
Persons living in long-term care facilities or other group residential settings
People 65 years of age and older
People with underlying medical conditions
Household members or caregivers of any of the groups above
People with symptoms who are not a part of any of the groups above may also be approved for testing, as capacity allows
You can find a test by contacting your primary care doctor or an urgent care clinic. Please do not show up at a testing site without an appointment.
Join us in May!
Are you in? Giving Tuesday Now is May 5th!
GHF is asking for your support on Giving Tuesday Now! Giving Tuesday Now will take place this Tuesday, May 5, 2020. This exciting and inspiring day aims to support non-profits across the U.S. as they respond to COVID-19. If you can afford to donate, we hope that GHF is among the non-profits that you support this Tuesday!
Your support of GHF:
Provides up-to-date information and resources to Georgians so they know how to stay healthy, and get help with their health, homes, or finances;
Activates health advocates across the state in support of policies that promote Georgia’s health and wellness;
Sends the stories of Georgia individuals and families, and the best available data, to Georgia leaders to inform their decision making; and
Brings together partner groups to collectively advocate for increased testing, strong consumer protections in public and private health insurance, Medicaid expansion, and the many other policies that are necessary to an strong, effective pandemic response.
Donate today to ensure that Georgians for a Healthy Future can remain a strong, responsive voice for all Georgians now and in the future!
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: Virtual Edition
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is May 7th! Join the Georgia Parent Support Network, Voices for Georgia’s Children, GHF, and others to advocate for children’s mental health. As the COVID-19 pandemic strains the mental health of Georgia children and youth and their ability to access behavioral health services, you can advocate for solutions! Be a part of this special day. This year’s event will take place online on Thursday, May 7th, 2020 from 9:00 – 10:30 am and you can register here.
Be a health care advocate from home
Your story is powerful. Share it with us!
Your story is one of the most powerful tools available as we advocate for the health and wellness of Georgians. Your real life experiences can shape the decisions made by Georgia’s leaders about the state’s response to this crisis and our economic recovery. If you or a loved one have lost your health insurance; are uninsured; recently lost your insurance; have sought COVID-19 testing or treatment; have other physical or mental health needs that you are trying to address during this time; are working in a job that exposes you to COVID-19; or have another health care story to share, we want to hear from you. You can share your experiences here. Thank you for your generous input!
Be an advocacy leader with the Georgia Health Action Network
Join the Georgia Health Action Network (GHAN) for updates, tools, and opportunities for advocacy with GHF! GHAN is a volunteer consumer health advocacy program that aims to develop consumers into effective agents for change. GHF welcomes all who are interested to join our monthly GHAN calls. During these calls, GHF staff share current advocacy opportunities, best practices for engaging with policy makers about timely issues, and answer member questions about organizing for positive change.
Thank you to everyone who is doing their part to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19 by staying home! As you avoid group gatherings, practice social distancing, and wash your hands frequently, you are actively helping to defeat this pandemic. The GHF team wants to give you a few other ways that you can be a health advocate while staying at home:
1. Fill out the Census at 2020census.gov (The Spanish language version is available at 2020census.gov/es.)—If you’ve already filled out your Census form, ask a friend if they’ve done theirs.
2. Thank a health care worker—we put together four custom coloring pages to say thank you to Georgia’s health care workers for their work to protect and heal Georgians during this time. Print, color, and share it with your favorite health care worker. If you share it on social media, tag us (@healthyfutureGA) so we can re-share!
4. Keep up with GHF on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. We will keep you updated with timely action alerts and Georgia’s health advocacy news.
Your health coverage, health care, and well being
How to access health care & use your health insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic
During this pandemic, it is more important than ever that you to have the information and resources you need to navigate the health care and health insurance systems. Last week, we launched this page with information about how to access health care services and what to expect from your health insurance coverage if you need COVID-19 testing and treatment. The page also includes links to mental health resources, financial assistance for mortgage and rent payments, food assistance, and other help that you and your family may need. We will keep this page updated as things change and with links to helpful resources as they become available.
GHF is fighting for Georgians
An evidence-based public policy response is essential in fight against COVID-19
Georgians for a Healthy Future believes that our state can successfully overcome the current public health crisis if Georgians adhere to the advice of public health experts and our state’s leaders swiftly adopt evidence-based policies that protect the health and safety of all Georgians. GHF has identified a suite of public policies that we believe Georgia’s elected leaders must adopt in order to:
Maximize health system capacity and public safety;
Increase access to quality, affordable health care for all Georgians;
Center equity as part of the public health and economic responses; and
Meet the basic needs of Georgians and their families.
In the coming weeks, GHF will track which policies are fully implemented, partially adopted, or not taken up at all, and will provide updates accordingly. Follow along on our blog.
In March 2019, Georgia lawmakers approved SB 106, the Patients First Act. The law allows Georgia leaders to make potentially seismic changes to health coverage in the state. These changes could impact the way that you, your friends and family, and Georgians all across the state access and pay for health care. Georgia leaders are expected to announced their proposed changes in the next few weeks.
What to expect
Because Georgia leaders are using health care “waivers” to make their proposed changes, they must seek input from the public about their ideas. Here is what you need to know about the coming public comment periods:
The public comment periods are your chance to weigh in about how the changes will impact you, your loved ones, and your community!
There will be multiple public comment periods and they are all equally important! Make a plan to comment each time.
GHF and our Cover Georgia partners will let you know when the public comment periods begin and end and will provide an easy way for you to have your say.
In other states, public comments from people just like you have been the most powerful tool available to expand quality coverage to more people.
Make a plan to let state leaders know how their ideas will impact you and your family! Your comments can bring affordable, quality health coverage to all Georgians. Stay tuned!
Call for nominations
Less than 2 weeks left to nominate a health care hero
GHF will host its tenth annual Health Care Unscrambled legislative breakfast on January 14, 2020. This year’s event includes the presentation of the Linda S. Lowe Advocacy Award, which is given each year to an advocate whose work advances access to quality, affordable health care in Georgia.
Nominees can be professional or volunteer advocates who work to achieve policy change for marginalized populations. This award is named in honor of Linda Smith Lowe. Linda dedicated her career to serving as an advocate on behalf of under-resourced Georgians who need a voice on health and human services issues.
Georgians for a Healthy Future is pleased to release its annual Getting Georgia Covered report. The annual publication tells the story of how Georgia individuals and families are faring in Georgia’s health insurance marketplace. It examines how last year’s open enrollment period differed from the previous five, presents enrollment and cost data and identifies policy opportunities to increase enrollment, ensure access to care, address affordability, and protect Georgia consumers.
Mark your calendars! Healthcare.gov opens for business on November 1st! Consumers can browse available plans now and enroll in coverage from November 1 to December 15, 2019. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share messages about open enrollment to help raise awareness about the opportunity to gain health insurance, the availability of financial assistance, and how to find enrollment help.
Rural roofer is stuck in coverage gap
Rural Georgians continue to struggle without coverage
Philip is a part-time roofer living in Fort Gaines, Georgia, a rural community in the southwest region of the state. While repairing a roof at work, Philip suffered a knee injury and a herniated disc in his back. Because he is uninsured and can’t pay much, Philip has been repeatedly refused the medical care that he needs to recover and get back to work.
Like Philip, 360,000 low-income Georgians, many of whom are uninsured, live in small towns and rural areas across the state. They have the most at stake in the debate over whether or not to close Georgia’s health insurance coverage gap. For these rural Georgia residents, health coverage would open doors to physicians and health services that they need to stay employed or get back to work. Read more of Philip’s story and see how your story can make an impact!
Each January we bring together legislators, advocates, and national thought leaders to discuss the health care issues facing Georgians. A morning dedicated to finding solutions that improve the health and well-being of all Georgians, Health Care Unscrambled is an event you don’t want to miss. RSVP today!
Georgians in the Driver’s Seat launches rider satisfaction survey
Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is a free service provided to Medicaid-covered Georgians who do not have their own means of transportation to get to health appointments, the pharmacy, and other health facilities. The program is especially important for people with disabilities, seniors, rural residents, and people of color, but sometimes it falls short of its promise. In order to ensure NEMT works well for all Georgians who need it, we need to hear from the people who already use it!
If you have used NEMT or know someone who has, we want to hear from you! Please answer a few questions in our NEMT rider survey. Your responses will help the Georgians in the Driver’s Seat team fight for much-needed improvements in Georgia’s NEMT system.
Make your voice heard through the Georgia Health Action Network
GHAN is a volunteer consumer health advocacy program that aims to develop grassroots consumers into effective agents for change. GHF welcomes all who are interested to join our monthly GHAN calls. During these calls, GHF staff share current advocacy opportunities, best practices for engaging with policy makers about timely issues, and answer member questions about organizing for positive change.
Sherry is 77 years old and lives independently in Murray County in north Georgia. Sherry is one of over half a million seniors and people with disabilities in Georgia who depend on Medicaid and Medicare to live and age in their communities. Thanks to Medicaid, Sherry is able to afford the medications she needs to live a functional and healthy life. Medicaid and Medicare also make it possible to spend her weekdays at RossWoods Day Center where she does arts and crafts and takes part in social activities designed to keep her brain and body healthy. For 168,000 seniors like Sherry who typically live on low, fixed incomes Medicaid makes the difference and helps to pay the costs of their Medicare coverage. Read more of Sherry’s story and see how sharing your story can make an impact!
Following the passage of the Patients First Act earlier this year, Cover Georgia (co-led by GHF) is proud to present new videos designed to help you follow and understand the changes this new law may bring to your health care and finances. These three new videos breakdown what you need to know about how this law could affect health coverage in Georgia, when the changes will be announced and rolled out, and how you can protect your health care from any unwanted changes. Watch and share!
Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies: Get to know Project AWARE, Part II
One of the four goals of Georgia’s Project AWARE is to “train educators, first responders, parents and youth group leaders to respond to mental health needs of youth by providing free training in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA).” YMHFA prepares participants to recognize and respond to the signs of adolescent mental health issues. Learn more about Project AWARE and Youth Mental Health First Aid in our latest blog!
GEORGIA VOICES FOR MEDICAID
GHF co-hosts Health Care Salon with Georgia WomenGeorgians for a Healthy Future and Georgia Women (and Those Who Stand With Us) co-hosted Health Care Salon: Georgia’s Patients First Act in Macon on Friday July 23rd. This community event brought together Macon residents to learn about Medicaid and Georgia’s new Patients First Act and develop health advocacy skills that can be used to build a healthier community. Read more about this exciting event on our blog. Be on the look-out for similar community events coming soon or contact Alyssa (agreen@healthyfuturega.org or 404-567-5016, ext. 2) to schedule one in your community.
REMEMBERING DAN AND DAWN
GHF mourns the loss of two close colleagues in recent weeks. Dan Williams, formerly of the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, and Dawn Alford, of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities utilized their respective platforms to pursue a healthy, equitable future for all Georgians. We will miss the curiosity and humility that Dan brought to his work and the passion and humanity that Dawn applied to hers. GHF sends our deepest condolences to their family and friends. We honor their memories with our continued efforts to build the healthy, equitable future they imagined.
In March Georgia lawmakers approved the Patients First Act which allows state leaders to make changes to Georgia’s Medicaid and private insurance system using two kinds of health care waivers (an1115 Medicaid waiver and a 1332 waiver). The waivers are expected to be completed by the end of this year and could mean big changes for Georgians and the way they access and pay for health care. Learn more about the waiver timeline here.
These waivers could cover thousands of low-income Georgians but so far Georgia leaders have not committed to making sure that happens. Ask Governor Kemp to use the Patients First Act to expand coverage to as many Georgians as possible.
You will have the opportunity to influence and shape Georgia’s plans for health coverage! Public comment periods for both waivers may begin as early as October 2019. We will make it easy for you to understand the waivers and help you send comments to state and federal decision makers. Check out our new fact sheet for information about how you can influence Georgia’s plans.
Behavioral health at all ages
Two new resources help Georgia adults and youth behavioral health services
Georgians for a Healthy Future is excited to release two new resources to help young people, adults who care for children, and others find needed mental health and substance use recovery services. Mental Health for Your Children and Young Adults helps adults recognize early indicators of behavioral health issues in kids and points the way to services and resources. Understanding Your Behavioral Health helps young adults and others recognize the signs of behavioral health issues in themselves or friends and family, and assists in finding the right health supports. Download and share today!
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Georgia Voices for Medicaid
Webinar brings “Georgia Voices for Medicaid” to your computer
Last year, Georgians for a Healthy Future traveled across the state to host Georgia Voices for Medicaid, a series of community events that helped Georgians better understand Medicaid. Attendees also developed skills to be strong health care advocates. Now, we have published a webinar to bring that content to you! Watch and share this video to learn more about Medicaid and how you can advocate to strengthen it!
Bringing together housing providers & health advocates
Join GHF, the Georgia Supportive Housing Association, andCommunity Solutions on Tuesday, July 30th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM for the Housing is Health networking event. The informal event will take place at Community Solutions offices at Telephone Factory Lofts at 828 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA. RSVP now to join colleagues and friends for an evening of connecting across sectors!
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day at the Capitol 2019
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day at the Capitol is tomorrow, Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot. In order to highlight and combat rising suicide rates among Georgia’s youth, this year’s theme is “Suicide Prevention: Strategies that Work.” Join the Georgia Parent Support Network, Voices for Georgia’s Children, GHF, and others to advocate for children’s access to lifesaving mental health services.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
State begins search for health care waiver consultants
Governor Kemp’s administration just announced the next steps they will take to implement SB 106, legislation that allows the state to make changes to Georgia’s Medicaid program and private insurance market through health care “waivers”. The state’s announcement outlining how it will hire consultants to draft the proposed waivers is only the beginning of a process that could result in big changes to Georgia’s health coverage and care systems. Your voice is key to ensuring that these waivers include provisions that support and protect Georgians across the state.
As the process moves forward, GHF will keep you updated about opportunities for advocacy so that you can help us fight for a Georgia where all residents have a pathway to meaningful, affordable health coverage. Read GHF’s blog, Governor signs Patients First Act: What’s next? to learn more about what to expect.
EMPOWERING YOU TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
GHF releases three new advocacy videos
GHF recently released three new videos designed to help you become an effective advocate. When your voice is heard, you have the power to bring about change. All you need are the right tools! GHF’s new videos cover essential advocacy skills including sharing your story, meeting your legislators, and using social media for advocacy. Watch and share these videos to help make an impact on the issues you care about most!
Thank you to the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities for their support to create this video series!
A recap of the 2019 Georgia legislative session
Last week, Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute hosted a webinar to wrap-up the 2019 legislative session. If you missed out on this informative event you can catch up now. Our “Changes in Health Care and Policy in the 2019 Legislative Session” is now available on GHF’s YouTube channel! In this video, we highlight the most important health-related developments in this year’s legislative session, examine the state budget, look back at missed opportunities, and discuss this year’s relevant study committees. Watch now find out how your work, health care, or your coverage may be impacted.
Want more?
Join the Georgia Health Action Network for more updates, tools, and opportunities for advocacy with GHF. The Georgia Health Action Network (GHAN) is a volunteer consumer health advocacy program that aims to develop grassroots consumers into effective agents for change! Through monthly calls and email action alerts, GHAN participants get the most current information available about pressing consumer health issues in Georgia and have the opportunity to plan and lead advocacy efforts locally and across the state. Sign up for GHAN action alerts here and email GHF’s Outreach & Education Manager Alyssa Green if you’re interested in participating in the GHAN program!
Cover Georgia Day at the Capitol is happening now! Health advocates are at the state Capitol today speaking with legislators about the need to build a pathway to health insurance coverage for all Georgians. We need you to raise your voice with them!
Advocates will be speaking to their state representatives about SB 106, the Patients First Act, which passed the Senate earlier this week. This legislation, as written, falls short of the promise to put a health insurance card in the pockets of all Georgians because it leaves out thousands who would be covered under a full Medicaid expansion (or a similar 1115 waiver) and will likely cost the state more to cover fewer people. Additionally, the bill allows the Governor to make potentially seismic changes to private health insurance in Georgia through 1332 waivers with little accountability. The good news is that it’s not too late for House members to make a few changes that would allow this legislation to benefit more Georgians at a lower cost to the state.
Your state representatives need to hear from you today! Call or send an email to your elected officials today and encourage them to get the best deal that will ensure all Georgians have coverage!
New releases!
New fact sheets put waivers in context
On Tuesday, the Senate passed SB 106, the Patients First Act. The bill allows Georgia’s Governor to pursue two kinds of health care waivers that could make significant changes to health coverage for Georgia consumers: an 1115 Medicaid waiver and 1332 State Innovation waivers. GHF’s partner, Georgia Watch, together with other Cover Georgia coalition partners, has released a fact sheet to help you understand 1115 waivers and how they relate to Georgia’s current debate about Medicaid expansion. Additionally, GHF released a sister fact sheet to help you understand 1332 waivers and how they may impact private health insurance plans in Georgia. Download both today!
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Updated for 2019: A Consumer Health Advocates Guide to the Georgia Legislative Session
GHF’s annual Consumer Health Advocate’s Guide is your map for navigating the Georgia legislative session. This annual booklet provides information about Georgia’s legislative process, legislators, and committees, key agency officials, advocate contacts, and more. Experienced advocates and new volunteers will find their way around Georgia’s Capitol more easily with the information provided in this year’s guide.
Charlie Ellison is 87 years old and a long time resident of Dalton, Georgia. Charlie is one of over half a million seniors and people with disabilities in Georgia who depend on Medicaid and Medicare to live with dignity in their communities. Charlie’s Medicaid coverage allows him to visit RossWoods Adult Day Services each day and reduces the costs of his medications so that he remains as healthy and independent as possible. For 168,000 seniors like Charlie who typically rely on low, fixed incomes, Medicaid makes the difference. Read more of Charlie’s story and see how sharing your story can make an impact!
GHF kicks off 2019 legislative session with Health Care Unscrambled breakfast
Thanks to you, this year’s Health Care Unscrambled breakfast was a big success! We were thrilled to have a room packed with advocates, policy makers, and others who joined us for this year’s event. This year’s program began with a personal story from consumer Lori Murdock, who shared her experience struggling to manage a chronic disease without health insurance because she was caught in Georgia’s coverage gap. Our knowledgeable legislative panel then provided valuable insights into the health policy issues they plan to tackle during the 2019 legislative session and in the following months. Afterwards, Dr. David Blumenthal, President of the Commonwealth Fund, brought a wealth of knowledge and insight to our conversation about how innovations in health care and coverage can help us achieve better health outcomes for all Georgians.
You can read the highlights of breakfast on our blog, and be sure to check out our Facebook album to see photos of the event!
Don’t forget! GHF has you covered for the 2019 legislative session. You will receive weekly updates about the health debates at the State capitol, can track health-related legislation on our website, and more.
Save the date
Cover Georgia Day at the Capitol!
Please join us at the state capitol on Thursday, February 28th from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm for Cover Georgia Day! We will be asking state legislators to put insurance cards in the pockets of low-income Georgians who cannot get affordable health care coverage under current law. This is your opportunity to speak to your elected officials and let them know that you support closing Georgia’s coverage gap.
Be on the lookout for further details. An RSVP link will be available soon.
In case you missed it
GHF releases 2019 policy priorities
Georgians for a Healthy Future released its 2019 policy priorities at this year’s annual Health Care Unscrambled legislative breakfast. These annual priorities outline the issues that GHF believes are most pressing for Georgia consumers and are best addressed by the state legislature. GHF will work to move all of these issues forward by engaging state policy makers, consumers, and coalition partners throughout the legislative session and the remainder of the year.
Increase the number of Georgians with health insurance.
Stabilize Georgia’s health insurance Marketplace
Ensure access to care and financial protections for consumers purchasing private health insurance.
Set and enforce standards that provide for equitable coverage of mental health and substance use treatment services by health plans.
Prevent nicotine use and addiction by young Georgians
Support partners in integrating health and equity in the policies across every sector to address social determinants of health that prevent equitable access to care and equitable health status.
Get to know Georgia’s Project Aware
Georgia’s state leadership has made serious efforts to improve Georgia’s system of care through the infusion of additional dollars for children’s mental health services in the state budget and through innovative programs like Project Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education (AWARE). Georgia Project AWARE is a youth mental health initiative focused on improving the experiences of school-aged youth in Georgia. You can begin to learn about Georgia’s Project Aware on our blog and be on the lookout for Getting to know Project AWARE: Part II, where we’ll learn more about Youth Mental Health First Aid and how it helps educators meet the social and emotional needs of their students.
If you or someone you know needs health insurance in 2019, now is your chance to enroll! If you are not covered by Medicaid or job-based insurance, you can shop for coverage and find out if you qualify for financial help. You have until December 15, 2018 to sign up in one of these three ways:
In person by visiting localhelp.healthcare.gov to find a list of enrollment assisters, insurance agents, and brokers in your area.
Mark your calendar to make sure that you are covered in 2019!
Already covered?
Help us spread the word about open enrollment on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Make sure your family and friends know that now is the time to enroll in health insurance, they may qualify for financial help, and enrollment help is available.
Health Care Unscrambled 2019
Keynote speaker announced!
GHF is excited to welcome Dr. David Blumenthal, President of the Commonwealth Fund, as the keynote speaker for this year’s Health Care Unscrambled legislative policy breakfast! Dr. Blumenthal will bring a wealth of knowledge and insight to our conversation about how innovations in health care and coverage can help us achieve better health outcomes for all Georgians.
We invite you to join Georgians for a Healthy Future for our ninth annual Health Care Unscrambled on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at the Georgia Freight Depot. This annual event brings together legislators, advocates, and national thought leaders to discuss the health care issues facing Georgians and solutions to address them. RSVP today so you can be part of this exciting event!
GHF’s new story book and fact sheet bring attention to the difference Medicaid makes in the lives of Georgians every day and the potential it has to serve those who are currently uninsured. The Medicaid Matters to Georgia storybook shares the real health care stories of Georgia children and families. Our new Medicaid Matters for Georgia fact sheet outlines the basics about Medicaid in Georgia. We hope these new resources help policymakers, advocates, and consumers better understand the importance of ensuring all Georgians have access to quality, affordable healthcare. We invite you to read and share both with your friends, colleagues, and partners.
Getting Georgia Covered 2018
With just weeks left in this year’s open enrollment, Georgians for a Healthy Future releases its annual Getting Georgia Covered report. The annual publication tells the story of how Georgia individuals and families are faring in Georgia’s health insurance marketplace. This report examines how last year’s open enrollment period differed from the preceding four, examines enrollment and cost data, assesses the consumer experience, and identifies policy opportunities to increase enrollment, ensure access to care, address affordability, and protect consumers.
In case you missed it
Donors choose GHF on Georgia Gives Day!
Georgia Gives Day was Tuesday, November 27th and many of you generously chose to support GHF with your donations. THANK YOU!
Don’t worry if you missed it! You can still donate to GHF through our #10for10 giving campaign in celebration of our tenth anniversary! Become a monthly donor today!
We invite you to join Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute on Saturday, October 27th at 11:30am at New Life Church in Decatur for Georgia Health Care Voter Day! Learn how Georgia can build healthier communities and a thriving future, and show state leaders that you’re a #HealthCareVoter! After the event, attendees living in DeKalb County can go together to vote early! The nearest early voting location is across the street at The Gallery at South DeKalb Mall. Register below!
Before you go to the polls!
Georgians across the state are being asked to decide how they will cast their votes in November. The decisions made by voters like you will directly impact consumer health issues in Georgia like access to health care, affordability of health insurance, the opioid crisis, and health disparities. Our Consumer Health Advocates Guide to the 2018elections blog series helps you understand the role that elected officials play in your health care and coverage. Read the series before you head to the polls:
Coming this week: A consumer health advocates guide to the 2018 elections: Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner
*Georgians for a Healthy Future is a non-partisan, 501(c)3 organization. We do not endorse or support any candidates or political party.
Health Care Unscrambled 2019
RSVP today!
Please join Georgians for a Healthy Future for our ninth annual Health Care Unscrambled legislative policy breakfast on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at the Georgia Freight Depot. Each January, we bring together legislators, advocates, and national thought leaders to discuss the health care issues facing Georgians and solutions to address those issues. RSVP today so you can be part of this exciting event!
GHF has a new resource available to help Georgians get the facts on Medicaid. This fact sheet provides information about who is eligible for Medicaid in Georgia, what health services and supports are covered, and why Medicaid is a good investment for Georgia. Read and share the Medicaid Matters for Georgia fact sheet today.
Stories from Georgia’s coverage gap: rural Georgians left behind
After suffering from a sudden stroke, Priscilla lost her job and her health insurance coverage, leaving her on the hook for all of the hospital costs that accumulated as she recovered. She remains unable to work or live alone but was fortunate enough to find a physician where she still receives the limited follow-up care she can afford. For rural Georgia residents like Priscilla, health coverage would open doors to the physicians and services that they need to stay employed or get back to work. Read more of Priscilla’s story and see how sharing your story can make an impact!
In case you missed it
#GHFcelebrates10
Georgians for a Healthy Future is celebrating ten years as the voice for Georgia health care consumers! We’re revisiting some of ourbiggest accomplishments from the past decade and we need your help to continue the celebration. Join us in celebrating our past successes and join our #10for10 giving campaign to help us accomplish a whole lot more in the next ten years!
Georgians across the state are being asked to decide how they will cast their votes in November. The decisions made by voters like you will directly impact critical consumer health issues in Georgia like access to health care, affordability of health insurance, the opioid crisis, and health disparities.
To help you make decisions about the candidates on your ballot, we put together a list of eight questions to ask of candidates seeking your support.
One week to get your tickets!
Join the celebration!
There’s just one week left to get your tickets to GHF’s fourth annual Consumer Health Impact Awards! Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the achievements of four amazing awardees who have made great contributions to building a healthier future for all Georgians. This event will also commemorate GHF’s ten-year anniversary as the voice for Georgia health care consumers! RSVP today to join the celebration!
GHF selected for Child Health Leadership Network
GHF’s Executive Director will participate in team from Georgia
GHF’s Executive Director, Laura Colbert, was one of four leaders from Georgia selected to participate in the Child Health Leadership Network. This leadership development program helps state-based teams of child health advocates improve the well-being of children and families in their state through policy change and effective leadership. The Child Health Leadership Network is funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Atlantic Philanthropies. Read more about the Child Health Leadership Network and the Georgia team here.
In case you missed it
What you should know about GCAL
GCAL provides 24/7 online and telephone support for Georgians who are seeking services for or in crisis as a result of developmental disabilities, mental health, or substance use conditions. You can call 800-715-4225 or visit mygcal.com if you or someone they care for is facing a behavioral health crisis or in need of services. Get to know more about GCAL in GHF’s newest post from our Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies blog series.
GHF goes to Athens!
Georgians for a Healthy Future hostedaGeorgia Voices for Medicaidtrainingthis monthin partnership with Athens for Everyone. TheGeorgia Voices for Medicaid trainings are designed to give participants the knowledge and skills they need to advocate for timely, important health care issues impacting Georgians. If you were unable to attend, catch up on with our latestblog post. You can also join us for ournext training event inAlbany or contact Alyssa Green atagreen@healthyfuturega.orgor 404-567-5016, ext. 2 to schedule a training in your community.
GHF has a new resource available to help consumers navigate the often confusing health care, health insurance, and social services systems. Included in the guide are sections about health insurance, finding a health care provider, and accessing mental health and substance use treatment services. The guide also points consumers to social services that fulfill other basic needs like transportation to and from health appointments, housing and food assistance, and legal support. A printable pdf version of the My Health Resource Guide is available below.
Celebrating 10!
Join us for GHF’s 10th anniversary celebration!
On September 6th, GHF will be kicking off our 10th anniversary celebration at the Consumer Health Impact Awards. In keeping with this very special occasion, we will be recognizing the work of four exceptional awardees who have made strides for countless Georgia consumers. We invite you to join us for this inspiring and festive evening! Don’t miss it!
Dr. Jean O’Connor is a consultant for the Task Force for Global Health on chronic and other non-communicable diseases, and previously served as the chronic disease prevention director and chief policy officer for the Georgia Department of Public Health. She brings to GHF an expertise in population health improvement, a passion for improving the systems and policies that influence health outcomes, and a deep resume of health policy accomplishments. Please join us in welcoming Dr. O’Connor to the GHF board of directors!
On GHF’s blog
Coverage saves lives
Queenesther recently underwent surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy that was causing severe health issues and could have proved fatal. Thanks to her Medicaid coverage she received timely, quality care and has been able to focus on caring for her young family. Queenesther is fortunate compared to many low-income parents because the state legislature has so far refused to extend health coverage to most low-income parents. Read more of Queenesther’s story and see how sharing your story can make an impact!
GHF hosts new health advocacy training in Atlanta
Georgians for a Healthy Future hosted a Georgia Voices for Medicaidtraining this month in partnership with the Central Outreach & Advocacy Center. The Georgia Voices for Medicaid trainings are designed to give participants the knowledge and skills they need to advocate for timely, important health care issues impacting Georgians. If you were unable to attend, catch up on with our latest blog post. You can also join us for our next training event in Athens or contact Alyssa Green at agreen@healthyfuturega.org or 404-567-5016, ext. 2 to schedule a training in your community.
Teresa is one of the 240,000 Georgians who fall in the coverage gap. Because she has been uninsured since 2009, Teresa has to find alternative treatments for a serious dental condition that she developed five years ago. Earlier this month, Virginia voted to extend health insurance coverage to people like Teresa. Georgia’s Governor and state legislature can follow suit and close our state’s coverage gap at any time. Read more about Teresa’s story and five other great reasons that Georgia should follow Virginia’s example on our blog.
Become a voice for Medicaid in Georgia
Georgians for a Healthy Future is partnering with community groups across the state to host a series of Georgia Voices for Medicaid trainings. You can attend if you are interested in learning more about Georgia’s Medicaid program, who it covers, how it benefits the state, and how you can be a strong health care advocate. Join us for one of these upcoming trainings:
Thursday, July 19th, 2:00 – 3:30 pm in downtown Atlanta
Friday, August 10, 9:30 am – 11:00 am at the Athens Clarke County Library in Athens, GA
Don’t see a training near you? Email Alyssa Green at agreen@healthyfuturega.org to schedule a training in your community.
Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies
Get to know the Georgia Apex Program
Some of the state’s recent $21.9 million investment in children’s mental health will fund an expansion of the Georgia Apex Program, a school-based mental health program that aims to improve early identification of, access to and coordination of behavioral health services for students who need them. The Apex Program has demonstrated strong, positive results in its initial two years. Get to know the Georgia Apex Program in GHF’s newest post from our Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies blog series.
#Protectourcare
Federal government continues to attack consumer health care and coverage
Threats to health coverage and consumer protections continue to emerge from the federal government. The Department of Health and Human Services has released a new rule to increase access to association health plans and is expected to release another shortly that expands short-term limited duration plans. Both rules put consumers at risk by increasing access to skimpy insurance plans without robust protections and pushing up premiums for those with pre-existing conditions who need more comprehensive coverage. The federal government’s actions in two court cases also threaten coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and for adults covered by Medicaid. GHF will continue to monitor these developments and will communicate how they may impact you and your family.
Powerhouse Policymaker Awardees Announced!
Help us celebrate these deserving policymakers!
The Powerhouse Policymaker Awards are given each year to local or state policymakers in Georgia who have exhibited excellence and courage in championing health issues in public policy. This year’s awardees are state Representative Bob Trammell and Georgia Department of Community Health Commissioner Frank Berry! Read more about our award recipients here and stay tuned for more awardee announcements soon.
We hope you will join us on September 6th to celebrate these champions for health! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available.
Celebrate our 10-year anniversary at this year’s Consumer Health Impact Awards
Mark your calendar for the fourth annual Consumer Health Impact Awards on Thursday, September 6th at the Venetian Room! We will celebrate GHF’s 10th year of advocating for Georgia’s health care consumers and spotlight the great work of health advocates and policymakers making a difference. Announcements about this year’s awardees will be made next month. Please plan to join us in September!
GHF adopts new strategic plan ahead of 10-year anniversary
Georgians for a Healthy Future celebrates its ten-year anniversary this year! Prompted in part by this milestone, our leadership launched a new strategic planning effort to chart a path forward for the next phase of GHF’s work. We are excited to share the results with you! We hope that you will find inspiration in our new strategic plan and we invite you to take and active role in helping us achieve the success we have envisioned. To read more about our 2018-2020 strategic plan, check out or newest blog post or download the plan today.
Medicaid Matters for Moms
Two moms, two Medicaid stories
Thanks to Medicaid, Valerie can take care of the health care needs of her three children. Without Medicaid and left in Georgia’s coverage gap, Susie struggles to manage a cancer diagnosis and other health conditions, while caring for her granddaughter full time.
Mother’s Day might be over but Medicaid remains an important asset for some Georgia moms and their kids, while others remain uninsured because of Georgia’s inaction to extend the program. See the difference Medicaid makes in the lives of the extraordinary moms. Read more about Valerie and Susie’s experience on our blog or share their stories on Facebook or Twitter.
GHF hosts educational forum about children’s behavioral health
On Tuesday, May 15th, GHF hosted Strong Foundations: Building a System of Care to Address the Behavioral Health Needs of Georgia Children. The forum explored the behavioral health needs of Georgia children and youth, Georgia’s publicly-supported behavioral health landscape, and successes and opportunities in the current system of care. In conjunction with the event, GHF released a new behavioral health fact sheet titled Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies, available for download here.
If you missed the event, a recording of the webcast is available here.
To see photos, review materials, and read more about our Strong Foundations event, please visit the event page.
Get Involved
Learn, engage, participate
GHF needs you to make a difference! Join us in shaping the landscape for a healthier Georgia. Your time, donations, and advocacy make the difference in mobilizing consumers for change and crafting policy that works for Georgia consumers. Volunteering with Georgians for a Healthy Future provides an opportunity to raise your voice, connect with like-minded people, and make a difference on the health issues that matter most to you. Inspired to take action? Volunteer, donate, advocate, or contact Michelle Conde at mconde@healthyfuturega.org.
Power of prevention: A new opportunity for providers to address youth substance use
As a result of sustained advocacy efforts by GHF and the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, Georgia’s Medicaid agency has made an exciting change that will help prevent and identify substance use disorders among Georgia youth and others with Medicaid coverage. The change allows health care providers to use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral of Treatment (SBIRT), an evidence-based, public health approach that is used to initiate conversations about substance use behaviors, guide follow-up counseling, and connect people to treatment if needed. Because Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids cover half of all Georgia youth, increasing access to SBIRT may significantly decrease substance use among young Georgians and help stem the tide of the opioid epidemic in the state. Read more about SBIRT and this beneficial policy change on our blog.
Are you a health care provider and want to know how you can use SBIRT in your practice? Check out our new fact sheet.
Upcoming Events
Strong Foundations: Building a System of Care to Address Behavioral Health Needs of Georgia Children
Please join GHF on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 8:30am – 12:00pm for a discussion of children’s behavioral health in Georgia. Presenters and panelists will provide a variety of perspectives and expertise to help attendees understand Georgia’s system of care, learn about services and programs available to young Georgians with behavioral health needs, and recognize opportunities to strengthen the system through collaboration. Join us in person or via webcast for this exciting and important event!
Why Medicaid Matters
For Travis, Medicaid means employment and giving back to the community
Travis suffered from a series of strokes when he was 11 years old that left him with several physical disabilities. Because he is one of the 250,000 Georgians with disabilities to be covered by Medicaid, Travis is able to work and be an advocate. Medicaid is essential to ensuring that people with disabilities, like Travis, are able to lead fulfilling, independent lives as active participants in their communities. Read more about Travis’s experience on our blog or share his story onFacebook or Twitter.
The 2018 Georgia legislative session ended on March 29th and with it came changes to health care and coverage in Georgia. GHF partnered with the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute to provide you with a recap of what bills and resolutions passed and which didn’t during the session. In addition to successful legislation, we discussed this year’s relevant study committees, and examined the state budget, including important items for health advocates and consumers. If you missed the webinar, you can catch up by watching the archived recording here.
COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON CLOSING THE COVERAGE GAP
Appropriations Health Subcommittee Heard HB 669, Discussed Bi-partisan Desire to Increase Access to Care
Tuesday morning the House Appropriations Health Subcommittee met for a hearing about HB 669, a bill that would close Georgia’s coverage gap by extending health insurance to low-income Georgians as allowed by the Affordable Care Act. Minority Leader Bob Trammell presented the bill to the committee and outlined how the bill would bolster economic activity in rural Georgia, increase access to care for low-income Georgians, and be a smart investment of tax-payer dollars. Committee members asked questions about the bill’s impact on people with mental health conditions and the costs and savings of the bill, and all expressed a desire to find a common solution to Georgia’s high uninsured rate and barriers to health care. No vote was taken on HB 669, so the bill remains in the House Appropriations Health subcommittee.
We are hopeful that this hearing will prompt continued conversation about closing the coverage gap. You can help by thanking the members of the committee and asking them to ensure the conversation moves forward towards a solution. Contact them now!
For a more detailed account of the hearing make sure to check our latest blog post by clicking here.
LEGISLATIVES UPDATES: NEAR AND FAR
Georgia legislative session ends next week
Georgia’s state legislative session is winding down as Sine Die (the last day of the session) approaches on March 29th. With this deadline approaching, some health care bills have seen significant changes and others have been successfully passed. Check out the most recent developments by reading our latest legislative update here. In the final days of the 2018 session, expect to see continued debate over how to best address substance use and recovery, the behavioral health needs of students, surprise out of network medical bills, tobacco taxation and regulation, and more.
REGISTER NOW! Georgia Budget and Policy Institute and Georgians for a Healthy Future will be presenting “Changes in Health Care and Policy in the 2018 Georgia Legislative Session” on Thursday, April 19th at 10:00 AM. Register here.
Congressional debates over health care continue as part of spending negotiations
Over the last month or so, Congress has been focused on spending negotiations in order to pass a spending bill to fund the government for the remainder of the year and avoid a government shutdown. Health care continues to be a major topic in these conversations, especially in the Senate where activity surrounds efforts to stabilize the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance Marketplace. There is little agreement among Senate Republicans and Democrats about how to accomplish the shared goal of lowering health insurance premiums for health care consumers who purchase their coverage through the Marketplace; however, discussions are on-going.
Congress is scheduled to be on recess March 24-April 8.
UPCOMING EVENTS
GHF and Step Up Savannah co-host health advocacy training!
GHF and Step Up Savannah are partnering to host a health advocacy training on Tuesday, April 3rd. The event will be held at 6 pm at the United Way building at 428 Bull Street, Savannah, Ga. Participants will learn how they can participate and lead health advocacy efforts and recieve information about passing health advocacy issues in Georgia. Representatives from Healthy Savannah and Safety Net will also be in attendance to share local resources. If you live in and around Savannah and would like to attend the training, contact Robyn Wainner, Director at Step Up Savannah, 912.232.6747, rwainner@stepupsavannah.org.
Interested in hosting a similar training in your community? We want to partner with you to make that happen! Contact Alyssa Green at agreen@healthyfuturega.org for more information.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Michelle Conde joins GHF staff
GHF welcomed Michelle Conde as its new Communications & Special Projects Manager in early March. In this role, Michelle will manage GHF’S external communication channels (email, social media, earned media) and leverage social media for digital advocacy. She will also provide policy research support as needed and contribute to the organization’s policy analysis efforts. We are so pleased to have Michelle join the GHF team. For more on Michelle and for her contact information, click here.
Georgians for a Healthy Future will be at the Capitol throughout the forty-day session to monitor health-related legislation, serve as a voice for health care consumers, and keep you informed about opportunities to engage and take action. For the past four years, our top policy priority has been closing Georgia’s coverage gap by expanding Medicaid. In the wake of 2016 elections, the national policy landscape has shifted considerably, knocking that off the table this year and placing existing coverage, care, and consumer protections at risk. Despite the backdrop of uncertainty and a critical need for federal advocacy, there will be important decisions made over the next three months at the state level that impact the health of individuals, families, and communities.
While it is early, here are the major health care issues that we expect legislators to tackle in 2017:
Renewal of the provider fee, commonly known as the “hospital tax” or “bed tax” to help fund Medicaid and keep hospital doors open
Development of a set of reforms to improve mental health services based on recommendations from a legislative study committee
Creation of a Health Reform Task Force to assess the impact of change to or repeal of the Affordable Care Act on Georgia
Addressing the practice of surprise medical billing, which can leave insured consumers with unexpected bills when a health care provider is out-of-network
Increasing reimbursement rates for primary care services for health care providers participating in Medicaid
Improving access to dental care for children, seniors, and people with disabilities
Georgians for a Healthy Future has several ways for you to stay up-to-date on what’s happening under the Gold Dome this year:
Participate: Identify and contact your legislators on issues that you are care about
Stay tuned for updates throughout the Legislative Session!
COMING SOON: WEBINAR
Join us for a webinar previewing state & national health policy in 2017
It’s a time of uncertainty for health care. Congressional leaders have already begun the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act. With the legislative session already underway, state leaders have acknowledged that something must be done about Georga’s high number of uninsured, the state’s struggling rural health care system, and impending funding cuts to hospitals. With so much uncertainty and change, it may be hard to keep track of what’s going on in health policy.
We will help sort out the confusion, and discuss expected & proposed changes at both the state and national levels. Join us for a look ahead at health policy 2017.
TAKE ACTION TO #PROTECTOURCARE
Coverage, care, and consumer protections hang in the balance for millions of Georgians as Congress considers major changes to health care policy. If the Affordable Care Act is repealed without an adequate replacement, one million Georgians would lose coverage and more than70,000 jobs would be lost in Georgia. Learn more by downloading our new fact sheet here and contact Senators Isakson and Perdue today!
LAST CHANCE TO GET YOUR TICKETS!
Tickets to Health Care Unscrambled are still available but time is running out. This annual event provides a special opportunity for health care advocates and stakeholders to hear from state policy makers about what they plan to address in the year ahead. We’ll also take a step back and look at the national context. We’ll have a conversation with our panel of national advocates about what is ahead and what advocates should be thinking about in this time of change for health care consumers. Join us!
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER ATLANTA AT GHF BOARD MEETING
We previously announced that GHF has been awarded a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta. The Foundation works to connect the passions of philanthropists with the purpose of nonprofits. GHF’s board welcomed Kathy Palumbo of the CFGA at the December board meeting to recognize and celebrate the award. Thank you to the CFGA for this opportunity and your partnership.
Recently released HHS numbers show that health insurance enrollment in Georgia and across the country is going strong. The Affordable Care Act is what has made these coverage gains possible, yet Congress has prioritized repealing this landmark legislation without clarifying what would replace it. We need your stories and your voice to ensure our policymakers understand the consequences of repealing the law. Please consider submitting your story, or the stories of the people that you serve, of how the ACA has benefited you. Whether it’s being able to afford coverage through the availability of tax credits, not being denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition, or being able to stay on a parent’s plan until age 26 – we need to hear from you!
ANNUAL HEALTH CARE UNSCRAMBLED
Looking forward to 2017
Please join us for our 7th annual Health Care Unscrambled policy breakfast. We are excited to host former CMS Deputy Administrator and nationally renowned Medicaid expert, Cindy Mann. As our keynote speaker, she’ll walk through what advocates need to know about how the proposed changes to health care programs like Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Marketplace coverage being discussed in Washington could impact Georgians, their families, and community. As always, our featured speaker will follow a bipartisan panel of legislators at the forefront of Georgia’s health care debates. Tickets are $50 (and could make a great holiday present!). We hope to see you there!
In November GHF convened experts and advocates from a range of sectors including housing, criminal justice reform, education, and transportation for a discussion about social determinants and how we can break down silos to advance health. In conjunction with the convening, we released a new publication, Health Beyond Health Care: Opportunities to Advance Health by AddressingSocial Determinants.
You can find photos from the forum on our Facebook page.
RECORD BREAKING GEORGIA GIVES DAY!
GHF raised $4,380 on Georgia Gives Day!
We are overwhelmed by the over 70 donors who gave so generously on Georgia Gives Day. This year, the health care stakes are higher than ever, and many of the gains we have made over the past several years in health care coverage and access to care are at risk. We will continue to fight for quality, affordable health care for you, your friends and family, and all Georgians. Thank you for supporting our work!
The election results have the potential to dramatically shift the health care landscape nationally and here in Georgia. It’s still too soon to know precisely what policy changes will occur and what their impact will be, but advocacy at both the state and federal levels on behalf of Georgians who need access to quality, affordable health care has never been more important. Read more…
SUPPORT GHF WHILE YOU SHOP FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
Did you know that you can support GHF throughout the holiday season? Amazon Smile allows you to select a nonprofit to support. If you choose GHF, every time you shop through Amazon Smile a portion of your purchase goes to support our mission. Signing up is easy! Thank you for your continued support!
This August, GHF invited both advocates and enrollment assisters to the second annual Getting Georgia Covered summit. Bringing these two groups together was the first step in fostering ongoing conversations and partnerships to ensure that health coverage translates into meaningful access to care for Georgians. Through the summit, GHF collected feedback and input for a report that highlights how assisters and advocates can team up for consumers. We invite you to read and share Collaborating for Consumers: How Assisters and Advocates Can Inform Policy, in which you will find opportunities and best practices for collaboration to achieve our shared goals.
GHF RECEIVES COMPETITIVE GRANT AWARD
We are proud to announce that GHF has been awarded a grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. The Foundation works to connect the passions of philanthropists with the purposes of nonprofits. Awards were given through a highly competitive process and we are excited about this partnership as we continue to work to ensure quality, affordable health care for all Georgians. Read the Foundation’s press release.
DID YOU KNOW…
Closing the Coverage Gap Means More Breast Cancer Screenings for Women
Uninsured, low-income women often face financial barriers to receiving recommended screenings for breast and cervical cancer, and in Georgia, minority women face additional breast cancer disparities. Women who live in expansion states are 25 percent more likely to get screened. Read more.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Health Beyond Health Care: A Starting Point for Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Through State Policy
There is a growing recognition that factors outside the formal health care system such as safe and affordable housing, access to transportation, and criminal justice reform also impact the health of individuals, families, and communities. Join GHF to discuss how health intersects with these sectors and how advocates from across sectors can work together for policy change.
Please join us for our seventh annual Health Care Unscrambled breakfast. Each January we bring together legislators and advocates to discuss the health care issues facing Georgians and how this legislative session might address them. This year’s event includes special national speaker, Cindy Mann, former Deputy Administrator and Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and a discussion of the upcoming session with a bi-partisan panel of legislators. This event will be held at the Georgia Freight Depot; tickets are $50. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
We truly enjoyed hosting author Daniel Dawes and all who attended this month’s book conversation. Dawes is a nationally recognized leader in the health equity movement who was instrumental in shaping the Affordable Care Act. Those experiences, as well as the complex history of health reform in America, can be found in his compelling book, 150 Years of Obamacare. We hope you’ll join us for our next event!
Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace has begun! Do you need help shopping for a new plan or figuring out how to find a plan that suits your needs? Are you an enrollment assister helping people enroll? Be sure to check out our newly updated “Get Insured. Stay Insured.” toolkit. If you need in-person help, you can go to localhelp.healthcare.gov.
UPCOMING PUBLICATION
Market Changes
Approximately half a million Georgians secure health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace or on the individual market because they don’t have access to coverage at work. As this market matures, policymakers at the state and national levels are engaged in discussions about how to ensure the market remains competitive and premiums are affordable. How is the Marketplace shaping up in Georgia 2017? Stay tuned for our primer coming out this November. It will explain some of the features of the marketplaces that ensure affordability, factors shaping the current landscape, how they factors impact Georgians who shop for plans, and ways in which the marketplaces can be improved at the state level.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: THE 2016 CONSUMER HEALTH IMPACT AWARDS
Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Last week’s 2016 Consumer Health Impact Awards was a truly wonderful event. We enjoyed celebrating Linda Smith Lowe Health Advocacy Award winner Tim Sweeney who flew in from Oregon for the event. Carole Maddux reminded us what selflessness really is. And both Senator P.K. Martin and Representative Stacey Abrams showed us what can happen when our policymakers work together for the benefit of all Georgians.
You can find the rest of the photos on our Facebook page and see if your tweet made our Storify story of the night here.
DID YOU KNOW…
…that the majority of Georgians in the coverage gap are working?
They’re working in some of Georgia’s most important economic sectors, such as construction, transportation, education, and retail. Lower-wage workers are less likely to have access to affordable health coverage through their jobs than workers at higher-wage jobs. Closing the coverage gap will increase health coverage for hundreds of thousands of workers without job-based coverage and is a smart investment in hard-working people who enable Georgia to prosper. Share this infographic to spread the word!
FOR NOW…
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
As we approach the 2017 legislative session, we have the opportunity to close the coverage gap and ensure that some becomes all. Check out our new video about the Georgians stuck in the coverage gap and our opportunity to close it.
We’re asking that you be a part of the movement and contribute $25 to our campaign to close the coverage gap. Your contribution will allow us to travel across the state, meeting with and raising up the voices of Georgians in the gap. It will fund our media efforts so that everyone, from Blue Ridge to Bainbridge, will know that these people can’t wait. The time to close the coverage gap is now.
ENROLLMENT UPDATES
GHF & Consumer Assistance
Although we are primarily a health advocacy organization, GHF has provided direct enrollment services to Georgians in the last three open enrollment periods. Last year, GHF primarily focused on more complex consumer cases such as resolving coverage issues with the Marketplace and insurance providers, payment issues, tax filing and reconciliation issues, and issues with supplemental documents. How did it go? Read more in Pranay’s blog.
Partnering with Enroll America
GHF is now several weeks into our training partnership with Enroll America. GHF was selected as the first organization, nationally, to participate this year in the Leadership Academy in a train-the-trainer model. Read more about what we’re doing here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
A Conversation with Author Daniel Dawes
October 25, 2016, 6:00 – 8:00 PM RiRa, 1080 Peachtree St. NE
For a second installment in our book discussion and networking series, we’re meeting with Daniel Dawes, author of 150 Years of Obamacare.
Attorney Daniel Dawes is a nationally recognized leader in the health equity movement and has led numerous efforts to address health policy issues impacting vulnerable, underserved, and marginalized populations. Dawes was instrumental in shaping the Affordable Care Act and through that experience has come to write 150 Years of Obamacare. The book provides a comprehensive and unprecedented review of the health equity movement and little-known leadership efforts that were crucial to passing important public policies.
Health Care Unscrambled 2017
January 12, 2017 7:30 – 11:00 AM
The Freight Depot
It is that time of year! We hope you’ll join us again for Health Care Unscrambled as we look ahead at the 2017 legislative session. Stay tuned for more about our speakers and panelists!
GHF PRESENTS AT COMMUNITY CATALYST’S ANNUAL SOUTHERN HEALTH PARTNERS CONVENING
GHF Policy Analyst Meredith Gonsahn presents on accurate provider directories
This September, Meredith was asked to present at Community Catalyst’s Southern Health Partners convening. She covered the passage of SB 302, a bill passed in the 2016 legislative session requiring, among other things, that health insurance provider directories be accurate. Wondering how it happened? Check out our new video, How A Bill Becomes Law (For Real).
GEORGIA CHAMBER RELEASES OPTIONS TO EXPAND COVERAGE
We are heartened that business leaders and health care industry stakeholders recognize the important role that coverage plays in a healthy and productive Georgia. We believe a coverage solution is one that extends coverage to all those Georgians caught in the coverage gap, does not erect unnecessary barriers to care, and maximizes the federal dollars set aside for Georgia. The Chamber’s proposal is an important step in this direction. Read more about the proposals and GHF’s position here.
Recent news articles about the task force proposals:
Did you know that not everyone with a low income qualifies for Medicaid in Georgia today? Georgia has very restrictive Medicaid eligibility guidelines; adults without dependent children do not qualify for Medicaid, regardless of their income. Here’s who qualifies:
Elderly, blind, and disabled people with incomes below 75% of the federal poverty line (FPL) – $13,200 for an elderly couple
Parents with minor children with annual incomes below 38% FPL or $7,600 for a family of three
Pregnant women with incomes below 225% FPL, or $26,500 for an individual
Children are eligible for Medicaid and Peachcare at varying incomes levels as they age, and one in two Georiga kids is covered by those programs
If that was new information for you, share the infographic to the left on social media to spread the word.
POSTCARDS FOR COVERAGE
Who doesn’t love to get mail?
and age, but it still holds a lot of meaning to most people. If someone took the time to write you a letter to ask you to do something, wouldn’t that get your attention? Now imagine if you got multiple letters asking you to do something for your family, friends, and neighbors. That’s exactly what happened for a majority of Georgia’s state Senate and House members. In July, we mailed out over 1,100 postcards asking our legislators to close Georgia’s coverage gap. Read more about the postcard project here. If you haven’t signed the petition yet, it’s not too late! You can add your name here.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – STUDY COMMITTEES
Study committees are right around the corner!
Some of the most pressing and contentious health and insurance issues facing Georgians will be front and center during legislative study committee meetings this fall. Below are the committees in which GHF will be actively engaged on the advocacy and policy fronts:
Senate Study Committee on Surprise Billing Practices (SR 974)
This study committee is charged with assessing laws to protect consumers against surprise billing.
Senate Study Committee on Premium Assistance(SR 1056)
The committee will closely examine models and policies for premium assistance programs as an alternative to Medicaid expansion and is anticipated to be a forum for a robust discussion about policy options to close the coverage gap.
Senate Study Committee on Opioid Abuse (SR 1165)
This study committee will look at legislative approaches Georgia can take to stem the rise of opioid addiction and related overdose deaths.
For more than 10 years Tim set the standard for reliable and responsible health policy analysis in Georgia. His insights and analysis equipped Georgia’s health advocacy community with the information needed to be a strong voice for consumers. Tim will be awarded the Linda Smith Lowe Health Advocacy Award. More.
Carole Maddux
Carole lives and breathes health care access through her work leading Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center in Pickens County. She provides a clear, moral voice for systemic change in health care, speaking out on behalf of Medicaid expansion and other important public policies. Carole will receive the Community Impact Award.More.
Rep. Stacey Abrams
As Minority Leader, Rep. Abrams leads her caucus in its efforts to enact legislation across a range of complex issues, always making time for health care. A tireless champion of Medicaid expansion, Rep. Abrams will receive the Powerhouse Policymaker Award. More.
Sen. P.K. Martin
Sen. Martin’s SB 302 is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that sets basic standards for provider directories and protections for consumers who rely on them. A second term legislator who isn’t afraid to take on complicated issues, Sen. Martin will receive the Powerhouse Policymaker Award. More.
GEORGIA’S EMERGING OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THE TIDE ON SUBSTANCE USE
Substance use prevention should be at the forefront of the minds of Georgia policymakers as they convene the Opioid Abuse Senate study committee (SR 1165) to identify strategies to address the opioid epidemic in the upcoming months. Substance use can oftentimes be prevented and reduced through a public health approach such as SBIRT – screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment. As part of our advocacy and policy efforts to make the case for greater use of SBIRT, GHF and the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse commissioned a fiscal analysis of the costs and benefits of supporting SBIRT through Medicaid. Stay tuned for the release of the full report and white paper outlining key findings.
PARTNERING TO COVER KIDS
Despite a sharp drop in the rate of uninsured children since 2014, Georgia still has 189,000 uninsured children. Their families are without the financial protection that comes with coverage. To address this need, people who regularly work with children need to be aware of the importance of health coverage to children and have the resources they need to connect kids and families with coverage quickly and easily.
That’s why GHF partnered with the Georgia Departments of Education and Public Health to conduct a webinar called “Covering Kids.” Read more about the webinar and the CEU credits available for nurses.
Health advocates, service providers, and enrollment assisters combined forces this month for a day of learning, sharing and planning at our second annual Getting Georgia Covered summit. From more about the event and speakers, click here. For event photos, check out our Facebook photo album!
At GHF, we have historically spent much of our time and energy on ‘traditional’ issues in health care – health insurance, access to care, costs to consumers, and health care quality and value. But we all know there’s so much more to health than that. Factors like education, housing, criminal justice and corrections, and transportation all impact our health and well-being. These factors are called social determinants of health.
This year, GHF is launching a new project to bring together stakeholders and advocates from across sectors to identify promising policy initiatives that can address the social determinants of health. Read more about the project here.
ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY FOR LGBT GEORGIANS
Georgians for a Healthy Future teams up with Georgia Equality and The Health Initiative
Together, we are working to help Georgians who have faced discrimination in health care report it so we can help stop it from happening again. Learn more about this project and initiative here.
If you believe you have been discriminated against, you can file a complaint online with the Office for Civil Rights. Please also tell us about your experience so we can help you navigate the complaint process and identify systemic issues that should be addressed through public policy. Want to stay up-to-date on this project and issues impacting the health care of LGBT Georgians? Let Anna know and we’ll keep you posted!
A WIN FOR GEORGIA HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS
Department of Justice moves to block major health insurance mergers
Please join us in congratulating our four awardees!
We are thrilled to recognize this group of amazing consumer health care advocates! We encourage you to learn more about them, their commitment, and their impact. This year’s celebration will be on September 28th at Park Tavern. We hope you will join us as we honor their dedication and that of advocates across the state. RSVP
JOIN US FOR OUR 2ND ANNUAL ENROLLMENT SUMMIT
August 16, 2016 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Sloppy Floyd Building
Please join us for a half-day summit focusing on opportunities for collaboration between health care advocates, providers, policy experts, community-based nonprofit organizations, and enrollment assisters to better reach our shared goals of improving health care coverage and access to care in Georgia. Confirmed speakers include:
Dr. Pamela Roshell, Region IV Director, US Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. Bill Custer, Director of the Center for Health Services Research and Associate Professor, J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University
Heather Bates, Deputy Director, Enrollment Assister Network, Families USA
Sandy Anh, Associate Research Professor, Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms
This is a free event. Lunch will be provided. RSVP
ENROLL AMERICA
We are excited to announce that we have been selected to be a part of the Enroll America Get Covered Academy – Leadership Track! The Leadership Track will focus on expanding our knowledge of best practices for outreach, enrollment, and reaching the remaining uninsured. Additionally, GHF will be the only organization in the Academy that is participating in the “train-the-trainer” curriculum. This specialized training will allow GHF staff to be trained on Enroll America’s Get Covered Academy topics and best practices to ultimately impart this knowledge to enrollment assisters throughout the state. Stay tuned for further updates on how we will take advantage of this opportunity and thank you to Enroll America for your support!
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.
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.
On May 13, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule implementing Section 1557 of the ACA, an important milestone in the movement towards health equity. Section 1557 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in all health programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance through HHS, are administered through HHS, or are established under Title 1 of the ACA. Notably, Section 1557 marks the first time that sex discrimination in health care is prohibited and clarifies that gender identity and sex stereotyping are included in this definition. For more check out this blog post.
Yield for Consumers: Insurance Mergers in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Insurance will hold hearings this summer on proposed health insurance company mergers that, if approved as requested, could limit choice and increase costs for Georgia health care consumers. Georgia regulators have the opportunity through these hearings to assess the merits of these mergers and to place conditions on them that can mitigate negative outcomes for consumers, but advocacy is needed to accomplish this. Read on for more about mergers, how GHF plans to engage in the hearing process on behalf of Georgia health care consumers, and how you can weigh in.
#Enrollment365
The weather is heating up and the official start of summer is just around the corner, but here at GHF we’re already looking ahead to one of the hallmarks of fall: open enrollment! Earlier this spring, new renewal policies and consumer shopping tools were announced and health insurance plans released their initial rate filings, giving us early insights into what we might expect in the upcoming open enrollment period: November 1, 2016 – January 31, 2017. But while we’re busy preparing for OE4, we also know that health insurance enrollment happens year-round. Read on for more about new rules for special enrollment periods, rate filings, and how to stay up to date on all things enrollment.
THE IMPACT OF THE CONSUMER VOICE
Does a strong consumer voice make a difference in health policy outcomes? At GHF, consumer engagement is woven into each of our initiatives to bring the needs and voices of Georgia health care consumers into the public policy process. Over the past two years, one of our top priorities has been maximizing health insurance enrollment and ensuring that once enrolled, consumers can access the care they need. Our work in this area, along with that of similar efforts in seventeen states, was recently evaluated by Mathematica. The evaluation focused on the activities and outcomes of the eighteen Consumer Voices for Coverage projects funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Learn more about the evaluation findings here.
COVER GEORGIA UPDATES
Cover Georgia Spring Summit
This month, members of the Cover Georgia Coalition met for a half-day meeting to discuss what advocates can do to make sure that Georgia closes its coverage gap in 2017. If your organization is interested in joining the coalition, reach out to Laura Colbert. If you are an individual advocate who’d like to join the movement here are three ways you can get involved:
Join the Georgia Health Action Network to receive updates on progress and prompts to reach out to legislators, engage on social media, and other quick actions
UPCOMING EVENTS
A Conversation with Author Mike King
The Warren City Club
July 19, 2016
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Health care advocates and friends – please join GHF for a book signing and conversation with Atlanta journalist Mike King, author of A Spirit 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. You can read more about his book here. We look forward to an evening of lively conversation about the role of safety net hospitals here in Georgia and throughout America. We will provide a light dinner and there will be a cash bar. This is a free event. RSVP here.
Consumer Health Impact Awards
Please join us for our second annual Consumer Health Impact Awards! This event shines a spotlight on advocates, community leaders, and state policymakers working to improve health in Georgia through service and advocacy. RSVP for the event here.
We will be announcing 2016 awardees in the coming weeks – look out for that announcement!
GHF’s Cindy Zeldin and Laura Colbert presented at the Healthcare Georgia Foundation’s 2016 Connections conference. They shared GHF organizational strengths that foster and support the development of strategic partnerships and cooperation. Check out Laura’s blog post about the conference for resources and more!
GHF joins League of Women Voters for Annual Meeting
On Saturday, April 21st, GHF’s Whitney Griggs spoke to the Fulton County League of Women Voters about health care issues addressed in the 2016 legislative session. She highlighted bills focused on health care disparities and the coverage gap.
Last week, Governor Deal signed SB 302 into law! GHF advocated throughout the Legislative Session for this bipartisan bill to improve the accuracy and usability of provider directories. SB 302 is an important step towards making provider directories the accurate and functional tool that consumers need to make the best health care decisions for themselves and their families. Georgia’s proactive move is being noted by national partners – check out the coverage!
For more information and resources on provider directories, check out our blog post.
NEW AT HEALTHYFUTUREGA.ORG
Infographics page
We know you care about advocating for a healthy future – it’s why you signed up for our emails! We also know you’re busy. So we’ve been working on ways you can learn, engage, and participate in the way that works best for you! One such avenue is through our infographics page. There you’ll find infographics on the issues you care about and easy buttons to share them on social media! If you’re on Pinterest, you can also follow our infographics board.
APRIL EVENTS
Inman Park Festival – GHF goes to the community
This past weekend, GHF had a table at the Inman Park Festival. Whitney and Laura were on hand to talk about the coverage gap and other GHF priorities. We collected dozens of close the gap postcards and gave out goodies to those that stopped by! Thank you to our partners at Feminist Women’s Health Center for joining us at the festival!
Post Legislative Session Webinar
If you weren’t able to attend our April 5th webinar, Changes in health Care and Policy in the 2016 Georgia Legislative Session, don’t worry, you can watch it here. The webinar reviews bills, resolutions, and budgetary items discussed during the 2016 Legislative Session that may impact Georgia’s health care system and health care consumers. Have questions that didn’t get answered? Email Laura!
PARTNER HIGHLIGHT
American Diabetes Association – Georgia Chapter
GHF is excited to partner with the Georgia chapter of the American Diabetes Association to support health advocacy work that can improve the lives of people affected by diabetes. Advocacy collaborations involve participation in the effort to pass SB 302, expansion of the American Diabetes Association’s Safe at School training program, and a Diabetes Advocacy Day at the Capitol in 2017. For information on involvement with the American Diabetes Association please contact Rebecca Drake.
The mission of the Georgia chapter of the American Diabetes Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes in the state.
SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
Join us for the 2nd annual Consumer Health Impact Awards!
We had a blast celebrating advocacy and health advances in Georgia with you last year and we can’t wait to do it again! Voting is now open for the Linda S. Lowe Health Advocacy Award and for the Community Impact Award. Know a person or organization whose work deserves to be recognized? Nominate them today! If you’re interested in sponsoring you can learn more here. RSVP here.
GHF WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Deep Shah
Dr. Deep Shah, MD, MSc is a senior internal medicine resident at Emory University School of Medicine/Grady Memorial Hospital. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia, where he won a Rhodes Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in comparative social policy at Oxford. Deep then went to Harvard for medical school. He has worked as a policy fellow for Senator Johnny Isakson and Governor Sonny Perdue. He serves on the American College of Physicians’ Medical Practice and Quality Committee and Committee and Council of Resident/Fellow Members. After residency, he plans to marry his interests in primary care, health administration, and public policy.
Melanie Porter
Melanie recently retired from John Deere, where she worked in several diverse capacities, including Director and then Vice President of the Agri Services division of the company. Melanie led HR teams in Mergers and Acquisitions, integrating new businesses into John Deere, and was then appointed to lead a newly created HR area of Change Management, where she and her team designed and developed processes and tools that enabled aligned teamwork and supported individual and team performance improvement. She then returned to HR Operations, leading a team providing HR expertise and leadership to all the corporate functional areas of the company. Melanie also served as a Master Coach at John Deere, guiding leaders in their career objectives. She was proud to serve six years as Vice Chair of the Board for Community Health Care, Inc., an organization that provides excellent, affordable in-patient medical, dental and behavioral health care to over 35,000 patients annually.
The 2016 Legislative Session has come and gone. If you’re still catching up on everything that happened, check out our legislative tracking page to see what passed, what didn’t, and what’s been signed by the Governor thus far. You can also find our video series, Consumer Health Advocacy Today (CHAT), on ourYouTube page.
Click here to read a letter from our Executive Director, Cindy Zeldin, as she reflects on the session and what’s ahead for Georgia’s health care consumers.
If you missed our webinar earlier today on changes in health care policy in the 2016 legislative session, join the Georgia Health Action Network to receive the recording.
Closing Georgia’s Coverage Gap
Working together to close the coverage gap
GHF and the Cover Georgia Coalition are gathering stories and signatures! Stories like Tracy’s help to put a human face to Georgia’s decision not to expand Medicaid. If you fall into the coverage gap, your story can make a difference in convincing our lawmakers to close the gap. To share your story, email Whitney.
If you’d like to show your support for closing the gap you can sign this petition to close the coverage gap and share it with your friends, family, and social network.
In addition to the petition, GHF & Cover Georgia are collecting post cards, like the one above, to show lawmakers that their constituents support closing the gap. If your organization would like hard copies of postcards, like the one above, to help collect signatures in your outreach, let us know! We’re also available to give presentations on the coverage gap and what it means for all Georgians. For more information about presentations, email Laura.
Save the Date!
The Consumer Health Impact Awards are back!
After an amazing first year, we are thrilled to announce the date for the second annual Consumer Health Impact Awards! Nominations for this year’s awardees start soon and now is the time to start thinking about who should take home the 2016 Linda Smith Lowe Advocacy and the Community Impact Award! Already know you want to go? You can RSVP here. Sponsorship opportunities can be found here.
GHF Welcomes New Staff Member
Sarah Dobra – Director of Development & Operations
GHF is excited to welcome Sarah to the GHF team! In her role she will provide operational, development, planning and evaluation, and editorial support to ensure that we’re functioning well across programs and projects. Prior to joining GHF, Sarah was the Disparities Manager and Cancer Care Delivery Research Program Coordinator at a community cancer center in Savannah, Georgia. In this position Sarah successfully leveraged community partners to support cancer prevention and screening activities to address cancer disparities as part of a larger community network. Sarah obtained her law and master’s in Public Health degrees at Tulane University and holds a B.A. from the University of Oregon. Sarah can be reached at sdobra@healthyfuturega.org – join us in welcoming her!
“Directory errors can be common. For example, a “secret shopper” survey done by Georgians for a Healthy Future found numerous errors in four “silver-level” HMOs in Atlanta that the consumer group examined. The survey found that one in five primary care doctors listed as participating in a plan’s network were not actually in that network, Cindy Zeldin, executive director of the consumer group, told GHN on Wednesday…” Read more.
GHF and Georgia Watch host policy forum on network adequacy, surprise out-of-network billing, and provider directory accuracy.
Early in February, GHF and Georgia Watch partnered to host policymakers, stakeholders, and advocates at a policy panel on important health insurance consumer protections. The event opened with remarks from Senator Dean Burke and included presentations from Consumers Union’s Julie Silas, Georgia Watch’s Beth Stephens, and GHF’s Meredith Gonsahn. If you missed the event, you can find presentations and materials below!
Ensuring Access to Care: Setting and Enforcing Network Adequacy Standards
When consumers enroll in a health insurance plan, they gain access to a network of medical providers. This network must be adequate to ensure that consumers enrolled in the plan have reasonable access to all covered benefits. The goals of this policy brief are to:
-explain the importance of network adequacy for access to care
-outline current network adequacy standards in Georgia
-summarize recent policy activity around network adequacy
-set forth consumer-oriented principles for network adequacy standards in Georgia
-provide policy recommendations to achieve network adequacy in Georgia.
Ensuring Access to Care: Improving Provider Directory Accuracy and Usability
Provider directories are the primary tool available to consumers to determine whether the plan they are selecting has a narrow or broad network and to identify which providers are in their plan. As such,these directories should be accurate, up-to-date, and should truly function as a tool. The Georgia Legislature has taken the first steps to addressing these issues through SB 302, the Provider Directory Improvement Act. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and is now in the House Insurance Committee for consideration.The goals of this policy brief are to:
-explain the role provider directories play as a tool for consumer decision-making
-describe current provider directory provision in Georgia
-describe common problems with provider directories
-outline recent policy activity around provider directories
-highlight other state examples of provider directory improvments
Whitney and Laura have been spending extra time at the Capitol lately with our coalition partners. Many organizations host lobby days during the legislative session when grassroots advocates can come to the Capitol to make legislators aware of issues that they care about and advocate for relevant legislation. Our partner organizations have invited GHF to attend many lobby days to talk to their attendees about closing Georgia’s coverage gap and other items on our policy agenda. Whitney and Laura have also provided coverage gap lapel stickers so this issue is visible to all people in the Capitol, especially legislators. Thank you to all our partners for sharing your lobby days with us and helping to foster new coverage gap advocates!
Consumer Health Care at the Capitol
Throughout the session we’ve been sending weekly legislative updates about the issues we’re following at the Capitol, such as the Provider Directory Improvement Act, proposals to close the coverage gap, and other bills that could impact your health care. If you missed an email, you can find all updates here. You can also see all the bills we’re tracking here.
GEAR Update: Special Enrollment Period Changes
We want to hear from you – new SEP rules!
At the beginning of last year’s open enrollment period, GHF created GEAR, the Georgia Enrollment Assister Resource Network (GEAR). GEAR is a coalition of enrollment assisters and those closely involved in the enrollment process. Now the open enrollment is passed, GEAR is turning to tax time and special enrollment periods (SEPs). Last month, CMS announced the new special enrollment confirmation process. Georgians will now be required to provide sufficient proof to the marketplace to determine their SEP eligibility. Failure to provide supporting documents may lead to the denial of coverage. At GHF we advocate for policies that make enrollment in health insurance more inclusive and fight policies that put up unnecessary barriers. We want to hear from you about this! If you’re an enrollment assister and are experiencing trouble enrolling consumers during a special enrollment period, let us know! If you’d like to join the GEAR network, you can do that here.
GHF Welcomes New Board Members
Aliyya Haque
Aliyya Haque is an associate in Alston & Bird’s Products Liability group. She represents industry in scientifically-complex matters, typically involving toxic tort, product liability, ad consumer fraud allegations. Aliyya specializes in working with experts to communicate the client’s scientific case to a non-technical audience. Representative industries include telecommunications, food and beverage, chemicals and minerals, automotive and home construction products. Aliyya received her J.D. from Emory University School of Law. Prior to attending law school, she obtained a M.P.H in health systems management from Tulane University and a B.A. in human biology and a minor in art history from Stanford University.
Sylvia Caley
Sylvia returns to the GHF’s board of directors. She is an associate clinical professor at Georgia State University and is director of the Health Law Partnership (HeLP), a medical-legal community collaboration among Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Atlanta Legal Aid Society and the College of Law at Georgia State. Caley has extensive experience in health care, health law and policy, and poverty law, and her work-related interests have centered on the intersection of health and poverty. She is a member of the Grady Health System Ethics Committee and the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Bioethics and public Affairs Committee. Caley teaches courses on health policy and legislation and clinical skills. She also lectures extensively on legal issues affecting child health and well-being
GHF in the News
Closer Look – WABE
59:18: Cindy Zeldin, executive directory og GHF, expamines current state legislation related to healthcare and health policy.
A small, surprising step toward a big change in health coverage? – Georgia Health News
“The bill may not get very far this year, with time running out in the General Assembly session and without the fiscal impact yet studied. But a Senate health committee broke new ground by holding a legislative hearing on a proposal, SB 368, that would create a Medicaid expansion alternative in Georgia…”
INTRODUCING THE GEORGIA HEALTH ACTION NETWORK (GHAN)
What is GHAN?
GHAN is your way to keep up with and take action on the health care policy issues you care about. By signing up to be a part of GHAN you’ll receive action alerts with things you can do, like sign a petition, share an infographic with your social network, or contact your legislator to raise awareness and advocate for important consumer health issues. To join GHAN, email Anna.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
The Georgia Legislative Session is in full swing
It is a short session this year and it’s amazing we’re already almost a month in! GHF is at the Capitol every day, advocating for consumer health care protections. To see a list of the bills we’re tracking,click here. We’re very excited that Senator P.K. Martin has introduced a bill, SB 302, that would increase transparency and the usability of health insurance provider directories. The bill has strong bipartisan support and is scheduled for a hearing Monday, so stay tuned for that update! Conversations also continue around surprise medical bills, network adequacy, and closing the coverage gap.
If you’re more of a visual person, you might want to check out our video series, CHAT (or Consumer Health Advocacy Today) where we talk to policy makers and experts about what’s going on under the Gold Dome.
OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS
GHF helped over 100 people get covered
Open enrollment formally concluded on January 31, 2016 and 587,845 Georgians enrolled in the Marketplace (healthcare.gov).
Throughout open enrollment, GHF worked to get Georgians enrolled through direct service and the creation of GEAR (or the Georgia Enrollment Assister Resource Network). GEAR is the new central hub of resources for Georgia’s enrollment assisters and community partners who work with consumers to educate them on their health and health care coverage options. If you are interested in learning more about GEAR or want to sign up for the newsletter, email Whitney. Additionally, during this open enrollment period we have provided enrollment assistance to 78 applicants and their families, totaling 141 Georgians. Of those, 91% received financial assistance.
WHY THE COVERAGE GAP MATTERS
On January 19th, GHF’s Outreach and Engagement Manager, Whitney Griggs, was in Savannah talking to people who fell into the coverage gap. One of them was Henry. Henry had been working as a super heavy hauler, but had to stop working in 2008 to take care of his diabetes and other health issues. He intended to return to driving once his health problems were under control, but he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and could not return to driving or working. He is currently managing several severe health issues, including diabetes, blood clots in his lungs and legs, thryroid cancer, and COPD. Although, he is able to get some of his care from St. Mary’s, he has many unpaid medical bills. He must rely on his elderly mother to help pay some of his costs, which he says is difficult because she lives on a fixed income. Stories like Henry’s highlight the need for Georgia to close its coverage gap to make sure all Georgians are able to get the care they need. If you or someone you know has a story of being uninsured that you would like to share, please contact Whitney.
6TH ANNUAL HEALTH CARE UNSCRAMBLED
Starting the Year Off Right
There’s something wonderful about a room full of people talking about how to improve Georgians’ access to quality, affordable health care. No matter the path we advocate for, the end goal is the same. This year we hosted a bipartisan legislative panel that included Reps. Lee Hawkins and Debbie Buckner and Sens. Greg Kirk and Emanuel Jones. Following the legislative panel, two national experts, Sue Polis from Trust for America’s Health and Lynn Quincy from Consumers Union, spoke on emerging trends in health care policy. Check out this blog to see pictures from the event, read the media’s write up, and watch interviews with the panelists.
GHF IN THE NEWS
Last Call to Enroll for 2016 Insurance Under the Affordable Care Act
New York Times | January 29, 2016
The holidays are behind us and the legislative session is here! Here’s what you need to know about December before we get too far into January!
Upcoming Events
Health Care Unscrambled 2016
It’s not too late to register! Health Care Unscrambled, GHF’s signature event, is this Thursday. Join us for breakfast and conversation with a bipartisan panel of legislators who are focusing on health policy issues under the Gold Dome this session. Then stick around for a deep dive on emerging issues for health advocates with Lynn Quincy of Consumers Union and Sue Polis from Trust for America’s Health.
RSVP
Webinar: A Look Ahead at Health Care Policy in the 2016 Georgia Legislative Session
Can’t make it to Health Care Unscrambled? You can still get the information you need to advocate on health care policy issues in the 2016 legislative session by attending our upcoming webinar. We will preview expected health care legislation,present GHF’s policy priorities, and let you know how you can get involved. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 21st, noon to 1 pm.
Register Here
Getting What You Pay For: Consumer Protections for Network Adequacy, Surprise Medical Bills, and Provider Directories
February 2, 2016 – 8am
Freight Depot, Blue Room
Join us and Georgia Watch for a policy forum featuring an in-depth panel discussion on network adequacy, surprise medical bills and provider directories. Panelists will speak on how these issues are impacting consumers in Georgia and across the nation, policy implications, current legislative work and how you can get involved in supporting advocacy efforts. The panel will feature:
Senator Dean Burke, District 11
Julie Silas, Consumer Union
Meredith Gonsahn, Georgians for a Healthy Future
Beth Stephens, Georgia Watch
RSVP
Policy Updates Study committee work has finished, reports trickle in
Georgia legislative study committees meet during the off-session to study and make recommendations for the General Assembly around specific policy issues. GHF has been following and participating in the study committees focused on health issues impacting consumers. Read our Health Policy Analyst Meredith Gonsahn’s blog for a run-down of committees that have published their reports, the issues they investigated, and report recommendations.
The 2016 Legislative Session has officially begun and at GHF we have released our 2016 policy priorities. You can download the PDF below or you can watch the one minute video by clicking on the image to the right for a quick run-down!
In December, the ACA Implementation Research Network released its Georgia state report at a policy forum held at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Executive Director Cindy Zeldin participated in a discussion with advocates, policymakers, and stakeholders to reflect on the report’s findings. The conversation ranged from health insurance enrollment best practices to health system reform to what it will take to close the coverage gap in Georgia.
By the 9th week of Open Enrollment 3, more than 8.6 million consumers nationally and 517,000 in Georgia have enrolled in health care coverage through the Marketplace. In addition to GHF’s collaborative work with the enrollment assistance community, we also help individuals and families enroll in health insurance! We have assisted more than 70 individuals and families with enrollment and post enrollment related services, and enrolled 60 consumers into Marketplace plans during OE3. GHF continues to provide enrollment and post enrollment assistance to consumers through its main office in downtown Atlanta, its weekly enrollment site at Switzer public library in Marietta, and through other events in partnership with community organizations, coalition partners, and other non-profit organizations.
Have you been to our website recently? If you haven’t, you should! We have revamped our site to be more engaging and intuitive. It’s chock full of tools and resources to help you get up to speed on the issues you care about and to take action during the legislative session and throughout the year. Check it out!
Victoria Congleton joins the GHF team in our efforts to improve health policies in Georgia. Victoria will work on various tasks during her time with GHF to learn about all of the components of health advocacy in Georgia. Victoria hopes to learn more about the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, health policies, the legislative session, and other health topics. She is currently finishing up her Bachelors in Community Health and French at SUNY Potsdam.
ICYMI: GHF is on LinkedIn
GHF has joined the LinkedIn community and we’d love to connect with you! Check out our page, follow us and let the conversations begin!
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners approved an updated network adequacy model act at its Fall meeting in November. The model act is a framework that states can adopt to help ensure that consumers have meaningful and timely access to the health services in their benefit package. With more insurance companies offering narrow network plans, these basic standards are an important consumer protection, and GHF encourages state policymakers to consider tailoring and adopting the model act in Georgia. We’ll be announcing our legislative priorities for 2016 soon, and this issue will be on the list!
Study Committees Conclude Their Work
Several health-related study committees met during the summer and fall months, and most of them are wrapping up their work. The Consumer and Provider Protection Act Study Committee held its final open meeting in November with a focus on network adequacy and provider directories. Claire McAndrew from Families USA, a national consumer health advocacy organization, and Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Health Policy Analyst Meredith Gonsahn delivered testimony on the importance of setting network adequacy standards and ensuring provider directory accuracy and usability. Look out for a final report from the committee in December!
Earlier this year, two separate proposed health insurance mergers were announced. A November New York Times article laid out some of the concerns that consumer advocates have about the proposed mergers and featured comments from Cindy Zeldin, Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Executive Director. Our Health Policy Analyst Meredith Gonsahn is monitoring this important issue – be on the lookout for a policy brief in the new year that provides more detailed insights about the potential effects of these mergers. You can also learn more by visiting the Coalition to Protect Patient Choice.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Health Care Unscrambled 2016
Please save the date for the morning of January 14th for our annual Health Care Unscrambled policy breakfast. The breakfast will feature a bipartisan panel of legislators who will preview the health care issues they plan to focus on during the legislative session, a keynote panel discussion about emerging health policy issues, and opportunities to network with fellow health advocates. Registration is now open!
Coverage and Access to Care: Local Focus on Savannah
Georgians for a Healthy Future hit the road again recently, this time to Savannah! We collaborated with the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute and the Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council to pull together a local roundtable discussion with individuals and organizations serving the local community. We learned so much about the coverage and access challenges facing individuals and families in Savannah.
North Fulton Community Charities, a non-profit human service agency that assists families in need in North Fulton County, invited Georgians for a Healthy Future to present our Medicaid chart book to its community leaders. Board members, city and county council people, and state legislators were in attendance, along with interested community members. We had a constructive conversation with participants about how Georgia can close the coverage gap. If your organization, church, or community group would like us to present at your next meeting (either about closing the coverage gap or about helping people enroll in health insurance), contact Laura.
PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH
Get Insured. Stay Insured.
This toolkit is designed to walk people through each step of the enrollment process, from how to select the right plan for them, to how to find a doctor, and even things to keep in mind when filing taxes if they receive a subsidy. Hard copies of the Spanish toolkit are available, please email Whitney for more information.
This workbook is a take-home, interactive resource for the newly enrolled. People can fill in the workbook with their own information so they have all of their important health coverage information in one place. If your organization is interested in obtaining hard copies of the workbook in Spanish, please contact Whitney.
In addition to November being a busy month full of community engagement, health insurance enrollment, and public policy advances, it was also a month for gratitude and reflection. This Thanksgiving, the 300,000 Georgians who fall into the coverage gap were in our thoughts. In the coming year, we plan to redouble our efforts to close the coverage gap in Georgia. Your contributions on Georgia Gives Day will support our advocacy campaign in 2016 to close this gap. The Georgians for a Healthy Future team thanks you for your support. And if you missed Georgia Gives Day, don’t worry – you can still give here.
Our new toolkit is designed to walk people through each step of the enrollment process, from how to select the right plan for them, to how to find a doctor, and even things to keep in mind when filing taxes if they receive a subsidy. Each piece of the toolkit can be used individually based on where the person is in the enrollment process or it can be used as one comprehensive piece. If you have any questions about the toolkit or would like to receive hard copies (for pick up only in most cases) please contact Whitney Griggs.
This workbook is a take-home, interactive resource for the newly enrolled. It covers topics that enrollment assisters may not have time to cover during the enrollment appointment, such as how to find a primary care provider, how to make your first appointment, and even how to make a budget. People can fill in the workbook with their own information so they have all of their important health coverage information in one place.
Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Executive Director Cindy Zeldin traveled to Tifton in October to participate in the second meeting of the Consumer and Provider Protection Act Study Committee. The meeting was held at the Tift Regional Health System and featured testimony from a range of health care stakeholders. The third meeting of the committee was held on Monday, November 9th at 9am at the State Capitol in Atlanta and focused on network adequacy, an important issue for health care consumers. Click here to read Cindy’s blog on the study committee’s work.
PAST EVENTS
GEAR Webinar
This webinar introduced the Georgia Enrollment Assistance Resource (GEAR) Network. We created GEAR to be a resource for navigators, certified application counselors, community-based nonprofits, and other stakeholders who are interested in outreach and enrollment in Georgia. Through GEAR, you can access an array of Georgia-specific consumer-facing materials in English and Spanish. Participation in GEAR is free and is intended to be a community resource.
GHF and Enroll America teamed up to host an all day conference in advance of the start of Open Enrollment. If you missed it, check out this resources page for tons of valuable resources!
Policy Luncheon on Preventing Youth Substance Use
This forum featured a panel of experts who shared their academic, research, and personal experiences, demonstrating not only the need for, but the effectiveness of SBIRT in preventing substance use disorders. Check out the videos below hear more about by SBIRT matters.
UGA’s State of Public Health Conference: Featuring GHF
Last week, GHF was on the road again traveling to Athens for UGA’s annual State of Public Health conference. The SOPH conference is a chance for public health researchers, practitioners, and students to share and learn about the newest public health initiatives and research happening across Georgia. We were excited to be featured as a presenter among other experts, advocates, and leaders in Georgia’s public health domain. In a workshop dedicated to the Affordable Care Act, GHF teamed up with Georgia Watch to talk about Marketplace enrollment efforts in Georgia. The presentation was based on GHF’s “Getting Georgia Covered” report, which explored the successes and barriers to outreach and enrollment efforts in Open Enrollment 2. We also previewed the upcoming open enrollment period, which starts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, and advocated for closing Georgia’s coverage gap. The other presenters in the workshop, including another presentation from our partner Georgia Watch, comprehensively covered the new ACA requirement for hospitals to complete a community health needs assessment (CHNA) of their service area every 2-3 years and how that is being implemented in Georgia. The workshop generated some excellent questions and constructive conversation about these two very different aspects of the ACA.
GHF Welcomes Yaminah, new Grassroots Advocacy Fellow!
Yaminah Romulus joins the GHF team as the Grassroots Advocacy Fellow. She will work to develop GHF’s outreach strategy and collaborate the staff on policy analysis work. Yaminah is currently pursuing a Master’s of Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Some of her interests include access to care for vulnerable populations, barriers to quality care, and the improvement of health care delivery systems.
A Chart Book for Understanding Medicaid in Georgia and the Opportunity to Improve It
Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute are proud to release our joint publication: Understanding Medicaid in Georgia and the Opportunity to Improve It. Inside you will find infographics, new data, and compelling charts that simplify the complex issue of Medicaid in Georgia.
Part one explains who gets Medicaid in Georgia, how Medicaid protects Georgians during economic downturns, how Medicaid controls costs in the state, and more.
Part two outlines Georgia’s opportunity to close the coverage gap. Here you’ll find out what Georgia’s health insurance coverage gap is, how we can use Medicaid to close it, and who stands to benefit detailed by job sector, demographics, and veteran status.
Part three details economic and social benefits of closing the coverage gap. Why is closing the coverage gap is a good deal for Georgia and the state’s economy? What are the savings other states realize by closing the gap? How does coverage affect a person’s financial and physical health?
A limited number of hard copies of this new publication are available. Please let us know if you or your organization would like one. We are also available to provide presentations to your members about Medicaid in Georgia and the opportunity to improve it by closing the coverage gap. Please contact Laura Colbert if you’re interested in a community presentation.
Many Working Parents and Families in Georgia Would Benefit from Extending Medicaid Coverage
We know that closing Georgia’s coverage gap would help adults who are uninsured. But how does it affect families and children in our state? GHF and Georgetown University Health Policy Institute’s Center for Children and Families have teamed up to bring you new research to answer that question. Key findings include:
Nearly three-in-ten Georgians potentially eligible for coverage should Georgia choose to close the coverage gap are parents with dependent children residing in their home.
Of those parents that could benefit from expanded Medicaid eligibility, nearly two-thirds (57 percent) are employed. Nearly half of all uninsured parents (46 percent) work in restaurants, retail, or professional service occupations.
Children enrolled in Medicaid are more likely to receive well-child care and are significantly less likely to have unmet or delayed needs for medical care, dental care, and prescription drug use due to cost.
UPCOMING EVENTS
GEAR up for Open Enrollment
Webinar October 19 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Please join us for a webinar to introduce the new Georgia Enrollment Assistance Resource Network-GEAR! GEAR is the new central hub of resources for Georgia’s enrollment assisters and stakeholders who work to educate people on their health and health coverage options. GEAR is full of handouts, interactive consumer tools, important updates, and other materials that will help enrollment assisters and community organizations better educate Georgians on health insurance enrollment, health insurance literacy, and more.
Want to learn more about GEAR and how you and/or your organization can benefit? Join us on October 19th for a webinar where we will demonstrate how to access GEAR and review some of the materials that can be found there. We will also get your feedback about other resources you would like to see included on GEAR in the future. GEAR is built to help more Georgians connect to health coverage and we want it to work for you!
Please join us for a policy forum to take a deep dive into promising, cost-effective best practices to reduce youth substance abuse in Georgia. This lunchtime event will be held just prior to the second meeting of the Senate Study Committee on Preventing Youth Substance Use Disorders and will feature opening remarks by Senator Renee Unterman, the chair of the study committee and the Senate Health and Human Services committee. The forum will also include a panel discussion featuring:
Dr. Paul Seale, Navicent Health
Dr. Gabe Kuperminc, Georgia State University
Leigh Colburn, Director, Graduate Marietta Student Success Center
Bertrand Brown, Georgia Council on Substance Abuse
After the panelists’ presentations there will be time for question and answer. This is a free event, but we ask that you RSVP so that we may order enough food.
In Augusta last week, GHF met with local providers, advocates, and consumers to talk about Augusta’s coverage gap. More than a presentation, the event was a constructive conversation about finding a solution and making Augusta healthier. It was clear to us that people in Augusta are dedicated to helping their neighbors and closing the coverage gap.
The event was previewed and then written up in the Augusta Chronicle.
“The state of Georgia will eventually expand its Medicaid program “because the numbers are so compelling,” a health care economist for Georgia State University said Thursday at a policy forum in Augusta.”
“Medicaid already covers 1.9 million people in Georgia, about 64 percent of whom are children, despite “very restrictive” limits on who can qualify, particularly for adults, according to a report being released today by Zeldin’s group and the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.”
GHF’s First Annual Consumer Health Impact Awards
What a night! GHF honored Georgia’s most inspiring health advocates, community partners, and policymakers at our first annual Consumer Health Impact Awards dinner in September. If you missed the event and want to see what all the fuss was about, check our our Storify or the photos on Facebook.
Legislative Study Committee Insights
Study committees are the framework for the legislative session. It’s where legislators, experts, and advocates roll up their sleeves and study the issues facing Georgians. Below you’ll find two windows into the study committee process. The first is a deep dive into the Senate Study Committee on the Consumer and Provider Protection Act (SR 561) by GHF Executive Director Cindy Zeldin who serves on the committee and is very involved in addressing network adequacy. The second is a breakdown by GHF Policy Analyst Meredith Gonsahn on the health-related committees meeting over the next several weeks.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Op-ed on GA Uninsured Rate
GHF’s ED Cindy Zeldin took to the pages of theAtlanta Journal-Constitution last month to make the case for coverage:
“The clearest evidence we have shows us the decision by the majority of states (30 and counting) to expand Medicaid is foundational in transforming the health system. We cannot make progress as a state if 15 percent of our population is uninsured. Too many Georgians fall into a coverage gap our leaders can fix. Medicaid expansion should be on the table, not as a perfect solution, but as a necessary first step.”
During the 2015 Legislative Session, the State Senate established the Consumer and Provider Protection Act Study Committee. This committee will review and make recommendations around several health insurance practices, including network adequacy. GHF has identified network adequacy, or the sufficiency of the health care providers patients can access when they enroll in a health insurance plan, as an important emerging consumer health issue. Our Executive Director, Cindy Zeldin, is a member of the study committee and looks forward to bringing the consumer perspective to the committee’s work. Cindy also recently appeared on WABE and Top Docs Radio to talk about network adequacy and participated in a panel discussion along with several state legislators at the Medical Association of Georgia’s Summer Legislative Education Seminar to discuss this important issue. Stay tuned for study committee agendas, updates, and opportunities to weigh in!
Study Committee Schedule
September 14, 9:00 – 12:00
State Capitol
October 26, 2:00 – 5:00 Tift Regional Healthy System, Tifton
November 9, 9:00 – 12:00 State Capitol
Don’t Miss Out: GHF’s Consumer Health Impact Awards
You’re invited to Georgians for a Healthy Future’s First Annual Consumer Health Impact Awards! Please join us for a silent auction, dinner, and awards presentation on the evening on September 9th at Park Tavern. We look forward to gathering with friends old and new as we celebrate the work being done by those dedicated to ensuring all Georgians have access to quality, affordable health care.
Over the past 50 years, Medicaid has ensured that our family members, friends, and neighbors have the quality health care they need. Be it our seniors accessing long term care services, kids seeing a doctor, or people with disabilities living independently, millions of people are better off because of this critical program.
Medicaid has also shown itself to be an effective and cost-efficient program. Administrative costs are substantially lower than private insurance and because people using Medicaid have access to preventive services, small issues can be addressed before they end up as big, costly illnesses.
Children in particular benefit from Medicaid. Studies show that kids with coverage show up at school ready to learn, are more likely to graduate from college, and end up with more earning potential as adults. In fact, more than 1 million Georgia children (about 35% of kids in our state) currently get their health care coverage through Medicaid.
As we reflect on what Medicaid has meant for children and families here in Georgia, it has been nothing short of transformative. And while about 1.9 million Georgians overall benefit from the essential health care access that Medicaid provides, approximately 300,000 Georgians are still stuck in a coverage gap: they don’t qualify for Medicaid under its existing stringent standards, aren’t offered coverage at work, and earn too little to qualify for tax credits through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The majority of states have accepted federal funding to close this gap, but Georgia hasn’t yet taken that step. Closing this gap and extending Medicaid coverage to all low-income Georgians would be a powerful tool for improving the health of individuals and families throughout our state. At Georgians for a Healthy Future we are proud to advocate for the Medicaid program that has been proven to improve health and saves lives. For the millions of Americans, and many Georgians, whose quality of life has been improved because of Medicaid, we’re so happy to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the life-changing program.
Major life events, such as getting married, changing jobs, or having a baby, qualify for you a special 60 day enrollment period. So after the honeymoon is over, it’s time to #GetCovered!
If you need assistance, our health care Navigator, Pranay Rana, is here to help!
Once you have health insurance, Whitney Griggs, our Consumer Education Specialist, can help answer the questions you have about finding a provider, accessing preventive services, filing a complaint or appeal, or any other question you may have!
We’re here to help!
Georgians for a Healthy Future staff is available to come to your coalition or organization meeting to cover any of these topics!
Laura Colbert, Community Outreach Manager.Laura can present on topics like closing Georgia’s coverage gap, how you and your organization can get involved in health advocacy, the effects of health policies on the health of Georgians, and more. Pranay Rana, Health Insurance Navigator. Pranay can give presentations on the health insurance marketplace and what you need to know before enrolling in health insurance. Pranay is also available for individual enrollments.
Whitney Griggs, Consumer Education Specialist.
Whitney can present on health insurance literacy (a breakdown of important health insurance terms and concepts) and how to get the most out of your health insurance. This is especially helpful for groups and communities that have many newly insured members.
To celebrate Medicaid’s 50th Anniversary, advocates and consumers across the country participated throughout the web with#KeepingUsHealthy and #MedicaidAt50
Last month, the Supreme Court upheld subsidies for health insurance bought through the federal marketplace, leaving more than 400,000 Georgians secure in their coverage.
“We celebrate an important victory for health care consumers, and we are relieved that hundreds of thousands of Georgians can keep their coverage,” said Cindy Zeldin, Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Executive Director. “But there is still work to do. Georgia has the second highest rate of uninsured in the country, and three-hundred thousand Georgians fall into a coverage gap that was created by Georgia’s decision not to expand Medicaid.”
Now that the outcome of King v. Burwell is clear, we must not forget these workers, parents, and veterans in our state who still lack access to quality, affordable health insurance. It’s time to close the coverage gap.
Have you had a major life event recently, such as getting married? You may qualify for a special enrollment period. Pranay Rana, GHF’s health care navigator, is here to help you get covered! Email Pranay for an appointment or check out his schedule below.
Once you have health insurance, Whitney Griggs, our Consumer Education Specialist, can help answer any questions you may have about finding a provider, accessing preventive services, or filing a complaint or appeal.
Pranay’s Schedule:
Switzer Central Library
266 Roswell St, Marietta, GA 30060
Every Thursday 11 AM – 4:00 PM
Moving Forward
GHF surveyed and interviewed enrollment assisters across the state to understand not only the “what,” but also the “why” behind the second open enrollment period. The results of that research have led us to several policy recommendations to maximize health insurance enrollment and retention and to ensure that coverage translates to meaningful access to timely and appropriate medical services for Georgia health care consumers.
Close the coverage gap in Georgia. Approximately 300,000 Georgians fall into the coverage gap, meaning they do not qualify for Medicaid under existing income eligibility guidelines in Georgia but their income is still too low to qualify for financial assistance (tax credits) to purchase health insurance on the Marketplace. Eligibility for tax credits begins at 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, or $11,770 for an individual or $20,090 for a family of three in 2015, while Medicaid eligibility for most adults in Georgia cuts off at income much lower. Thirty states including DC have closed their coverage gaps thus far with promising results. We encourage Georgia policymakers to take this important step as well to ensure all Georgians have a pathway to coverage.
Set and enforce network adequacy and transparency standards. Many of the plans sold through the Health Insurance Marketplace are Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans that feature narrow provider networks. While these narrow networks can help keep premiums down, a trade-off many consumers may be willing to make, consumers do not currently have sufficient information to make this choice. There is no information available to consumers at the point of sale about whether a provider network is ultra narrow, narrow, or broad, and provider directories are routinely inaccurate. More transparency and oversight are needed to ensure that consumers have accurate and useful information to make these choices. It is also important that all provider networks allow for meaningful access to all covered benefits. To ensure this, we support putting in place and enforcing network adequacy standards.
Encourage public-private partnerships and remove unnecessary restrictions on consumer education and assistance. Many of the enrollment assisters we surveyed indicated that reducing barriers to partnering with state government organizations such as public colleges, universities, and health departments would lead to stronger and more effective partnerships. Specifically, many respondents indicated that improved coordination between enrollment assisters, the Marketplace, and the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) to better facilitate PeachCare for Kids and Medicaid enrollment would be helpful. The “Health Care Freedom Act,” passed in 2014 as part of HB 943, prohibits state and local governmental entities from operating a health insurance navigator program and places other limitations on governmental entities. This provision has been counterproductive, creating confusion around what educational and consumer assistance activities local entities can engage in as they work to serve their community members. We recommend lifting these restrictions.
GHF UPCOMING EVENTS
You’re invited to Georgians for a Healthy Future’s First Annual Consumer Health Impact Awards!
Please join us for a silent auction, dinner, and awards presentation on the evening on September 9th at Park Tavern. We look forward to gathering with friends old and new as we celebrate the work being done by those dedicated to ensuring all Georgians have access to quality, affordable health care. Tickets can be purchased below.
Do you know someone who should be recoginized for one of the below awards? Nominate them here! Nominations will be accepted through July 31st.
You can view sponsorship opportunities here, or if you have an item you’d like to donate for the silent auction, please email Anna.
Linda Smith Lowe Health Advocacy Award
The Linda Smith Lowe Health Advocacy Award is given each year to an advocate whos work advances access to quality, affordable health care in Georgia. Nominees can be either professional advocates or volunteer advocates and must place a focus on vulnerable populations in their work and must work to achieve policy change. This award is named in honor of Linda Smith Lowe. Linda has dedicated her career to serving as an advocate on behalf of underserved Georgians who need a voice on health and human services issues.
Community Impact Award
The Community Impact Award is given each year to an individual or organization who has made an exceptional contribution to the health of their community in the past year. The impact of this contribution can be either at the individual, local, or state level. Nominees must work with individuals or local organizations to drive advancements in the health of the population served. Nominees may be health care providers, enrollment assisters, health educators, or others.
Powerhouse Policymaker Awards
The Powerhouse Policymaker Awards are given each year to local or state policymakers in Georgia who have exhibited excellence and courage in championing health issues in the public policy arena. Award recipients will have a particular focus on consumers or vulnerable populations and will have worked to advance our vision of a day in which all Georgians have access to the quality, affordable health care they need to lead healthy lives and contribute to the health of their communities.
GHF IN THE NEWS
All eyes were on health insurance last month and we were excited to celebrate the victory with the press and with Georgia!
GHF welcomes a new staff member! Meredith Gonsahn is Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Health Policy Analyst. She joined Georgians for a Healthy Future in July 2015. In this role she identifies key issues in health policy and how they impact Georgia health care consumers. Meredith also monitors major trends in public and private health insurance, health system reform and other key policy areas to keep the organization abreast of emerging issues. Meredith comes to Georgians for a Healthy Future from the Atlanta VA Medical Center where she served as a Study Coordinator for a wound care clinical trial. Prior to this position, Meredith was a Research Associate for the Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research at Henry Ford Health System. In this role she identified and analyzed key health system reform policies at the Federal, state and local levels to shape the policy agenda for the System. She also served as a liaison to coordinate and submit Affordable Care Act demonstration project applications for System business units. Meredith has a Master’s of Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management from Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Duke University.
GHF is also pleased to announce our Executive Director Cindy Zeldin’s appointment to the Senate study committee for SR 561, the Consumer and Provider Protection Act. Full information about study committee appointments can be found here.
The report covers how new health insurance opportunities created through the Affordable Care Act (ACA ) have led to historic reductions in the nation’s uninsured rate. Here in Georgia, more than half a million consumers signed up for health insurance during the open enrollment period that ended this past February, known as OE 2.
These strong enrollment numbers mean that more Georgia consumers can access the health care services they need and enjoy enhanced financial security for themselves and their families. The reduction in our state’s uninsured rate, although smaller than that of the nation as a whole, also has positive implications for the vitality of local health care systems and communities throughout Georgia.
Too many Georgians, however, remain uninsured, either because
they are unaware that there are coverage options that can meet their needs and budget
face cultural, linguistic, financial, or other barriers to coverage; or
fall into the “coverage gap” that was created when Georgia declined to expand Medicaid as authorized under the ACA
The goals of this report are
to explain the role of in-person assistance on enrollment outcomes and consumers’ experiences
to explore best practices that helped achieve robust enrollment in Georgia
to identify any common challenges or barriers to enrollment that Georgia consumers faced during OE2
to highlight promising strategies and approaches to reach the remaining uninsured who qualify for affordable health insurance
to put forth policy recommendations that can help facilitate a positive experience for health care consumers, both for those who are newly enrolled and for those who remain uninsured.
Getting Georgia Covered Event
On May 13, GHF hosted a lunch panel discussion on best practices, lessons learned, and policy recommendations from the second open enrollment period. During the event, GHF released it’s new report on the topic. You can download it here.
To see additional pictures from the even, please visit our facebook page!
Enroll America: Danté McKay, Georgia State Director
Georgians for a Healthy Future: Whitney Griggs, Consumer Education Specialist
US Department of Health & Human Services: Dr. Pamela Roshell, Region 4 Director
InsureGA: Sarah Sessoms, Executive Director
SEEDCO: Lisa Stein, Vice President Work and Family Supports
GHF in the News!
From the end of open enrollment to the looming King v Burwell decision to the ongoing need to close Georgia’s coverage gap, health policy continues to dominate the headlines, and GHF is at the forefront of the conversation! Check out the news coverage below to learn more about what’s happening in Georgia and how it impacts health care consumers in our state.
Open Enrollment Success, Lessons Learned, and Policy Recommendations
Whitney Griggs, a consumer education specialist with Georgians for a Healthy Future, speaks on A Closer Look with Rose Scott and Denis O’Hayer about the recently approved FLEX bus serving Cobb communities. (Photo/Brenna Beech)
Click the articles below to learn more about what worked well for consumers, what challenges and barriers they still face, and what changes can be made at both the community and policy levels to connect Georgians to health coverage and make sure that coverage translates to meaningful access to care.
“More than a half-million Georgians signed up for health coverage during the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period that ended in February. Many were previously uninsured. These robust enrollment figures show Georgia consumers strongly value health insurance and the access to care and financial security it can bring. An unmet demand is finally being met.
To gain a better understanding of this enrollment success story and what’s next for Georgia’s newly covered consumers, Georgians for a Healthy Future reached out to the enrollment assistance community – health insurance navigators and certified application counselors – and reviewed available data on plan offerings, premiums and enrollment. Three key themes emerged.”
“We can’t just close the door on hundreds of thousands of Georgians who finally had it opened for them.” Sometime in the next few weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court will hand down its decision in King v. Burwell, the high profile case that could place health coverage at risk for an estimated 430,000 Georgia consumers. Georgians for a Healthy Future has been monitoring the case closely and talked to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the need for Georgia policymakers to step in if the court rules for the plaintiff. This story was featured on today’s front page.
There have been several news stories over the past couple of weeks about a Medicaid pilot project under consideration by state policymakers. WSB-TV sat down with Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Executive Director last week to talk about whether this policy discussion brings us a step closer to closing the coverage gap in Georgia. Georgia Health News, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Georgia Report are all tracking the issue. Click below for media reports featuring GHF and our partners!
At Georgians for a Healthy Future we strive to send you emails and content that are valuable to you and your work. To help in our efforts to improve our communications, please take this two question survey! Thank you!
ICYMI: We’re on Pinterest!
GHF in now on Pinterest! While you’re skimming pins for what you’re going to cook for dinner tonight or that next DIY project you are definitely going to do, let us be your daily dose of inspiration. Follow our boards for photos of people in the coverage gap, our Somebody Finally Asked Me campaign, and access to all the great infographics we share.
While Georgia has made little progress on closing its coverage gap, the subject is a hot topic elsewhere.
Montana has closed its coverage gap! As the 29th state to close the gap, Montana will provide 70,000 Montanans with quality, affordable health care coverage. The state is currently working with CMS to gain approval for its expansion proposal.
Face Off in Florida–The debate over closing the coverage gap is as hot as sunburnt skin after spring break! Floridians have seen a sudden and unexpected adjournment of the legislative session, a stand-off with HHS over the low-income pool (LIP), and their governor file suit against the federal government. The debate is far from over as the legislature plans to reconvene in June to complete their legislative responsibilities.
Policy makers in both Alaska and Louisiana are discussing if and how to close their coverage gaps. While their legislators debate whether or not to close the coverage gap during a special session, polls show that Alaskans are hugely in favor of the policy. In Louisiana, Gov. Jindal remains opposed to the idea of closing his state’s coverage gap, but legislators are discussing their options.
While Montana closes its gap and other states think through their options, more and more studies are revealing that closing the coverage gap is good for states! It saves money in state budgets and facilitates job growth, especially in the health care sector. Families USA summarized the new data in a recent blog post.
Need help enrolling or using your insurance?
Pranay Rana, GHF’s health care navigator, is here to help you get covered! Email Pranay for an appointment or check out his schedule.
Once you have health insurance, Whitney Griggs, our Consumer Education Specialist, can help answer the questions you have about finding a provider, accessing preventive services, filing a complaint or appeal, or any other question you may have!
Whitney and Pranay are both available to make educational presentations to community-based organizations in Georgia about how to enroll in health insurance and how to use coverage to access care once enrolled. If your organization would like to provide this type of presentation for your community members, please let us know! We can help!
Tax time special enrollment period a success!
The last chance to sign up for health insurance this year under the Affordable Care Act ended in April, when an extended deadline for enrollment expired. The extension was offered to give consumers who did not know they would owe a penalty if they did not have health insurance an additional opportunity to secure coverage. Thousands took advantage of the extension and, as of April 13th, about 68,000 people had signed up nationwide under the extension. Call centers had an average wait time of 10 minutes, showing consistent traffic. GHF’s navigator personally assisted over 30 people during the special enrollment period!
While the next open enrollment period doesn’t begin until Nov. 1, 2015 you may qualify for a special enrollment period throughout the year. For example, losing your health coverage because of the loss of a job, getting married, having a baby, or moving to a different state that does not offer your current plan could trigger eligibility for a special enrollment period.
If you have questions about owing a fine or special enrollment periods, please reach out to Whitney Griggs, our Consumer Education Specialist, today!
GHF Upcoming Events
Getting Georgia Covered: Lessons Learned from Open Enrollment 2
Hear from an expert panel on best practices and lessons learned during the second open enrollment period. We’ll learn about the successful strategies that enrollment assisters deployed in helping consumers, identify the challenges and barriers that remain for consumers, and discuss policy recommendations that can help get more Georgians covered. This is a free event.
#betterwithobamacare was trending on Twitter as we celebrated five years of the increased coverage and security that’s come with the Affordable Care Act.
#getcovered and #staycovered were the battle cry of OE2. Follow those hashtags to stay on top of the enrollment movement!
With Crossover Day behind us, we are fast approaching the 40th and final legislative day for the year, April 2nd. This week, GHF spoke with House Insurance Chairman Richard Smith about what he saw as the most important role he played as chairman. You might be surprised with his answer – click the image below to watch the video!
With just a little more than two weeks to go, here’s an update on health care legislation important to Georgia health care consumers. For a detailed chart of every health care bill we’re watching, click here.
The FY 2016 Budget passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate. The Senate expects to finish their revisions to the budget this week, possibly with some new revenue. They will then send it back to the House and then to a conference committee before it is finalized.
Medicaid Parity: The Senate proposed $5.9 million in increased reimbursements for certain OB/GYN services and $13.6 million for certain primary care services, which is an increase over the House of Representatives’ proposal ($2.96 million for OB/GYN and $1.5 million for primary care services). Because Medicaid parity has been shown to be an effective strategy for improving access to care for consumers, GHF supports raising Medicaid reimbursement rates to parity with Medicare rates. We are advocating for a higher appropriation amount for Medicaid reimbursement rate increases as the budget moves through the process. Click here to read Georgia Health News’s coverage of this latest development.
SBIRT Resolution: Senate HHS Chairwoman Renee Unterman officially introduced SR 487 to form a Senate Study Committee on preventing youth substance use disorders. Through GHF’s work with the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, we are advocating for a public health approach to substance use disorders that focuses on prevention. This resolution gets the conversation started about how to do that in Georgia. Please take the time to thank Senator Unterman for her support of this effort and to let your elected officials know you support SR 487.
SB 158: (Sen. Burke) provides certain consumer and provider protections regarding health insurance, including network adequacy language. SB 158 has been referred to the Senate Insurance Committee where it received a hearing on Wednesday, March 3. GHF provided testimony in committee, focusing specifically on the network adequacy component of the bill. GHF also met with committee members individually about the bill after the committee hearing to talk about why it is an important issue for consumers. While the bill is not expected to move in its current form this legislative session, there will likely be a study committee on the network adequacy component. GHF has identified network adequacy as an important consumer issue and plans to remain engaged on this topic as discussions move forward.
Closing the Coverage Gap: No hearings have been scheduled or are pending to address the possibility of expanding Medicaid in Georgia. Closing Georgia’s coverage gap by expanding Medicaid would open a pathway to health insurance for approximately 300,000 uninsured Georgians, an approach which GHF supports. Two bills have been introduced to address Georgia’s coverage gap (HR 226 and SB 38), although neither crossed over. Please thank the cosponsors of these bills, Rep. Rahn Mayo and Senator Vincent Fort, for their support and show your support by filling out a postcard that we’ll mail to your legislators!
Tobacco Tax: No additional standalone proposals have been made to increase Georgia’s tobacco tax (other than HB 445 as previously reported). The Senate however, may respond to the House proposal on transportation funding by including a tobacco tax increase to the regional average of around 68 cents. Importantly, Alabama’s Governor is proposing an increase in their state tobacco tax to $1.25 per pack, which would increase the regional average. GHF continues to advocate for an increase to the national average by raising our tobacco tax by $1.23. Such an increase would generate $585 million per year according to the fiscal note generated by the non-partisan fiscal office at GSU. Check out our fact sheet for more info!
Medicaid Minute
Opponents often argue that closing Georgia’s coverage gap would be too expensive for our state, but data from states that expanded their Medicaid programs in 2014 contradict that claim. According to a new study, closing the coverage gap produced big savings and increased revenues for states.
Early data from Kentucky and Arkansas show state budget savings that will offset the costs of covering the newly eligible Medicaid population beyond state fiscal year (SFY) 2021. Kentucky expects to see $820 million in net savings over the next seven years, while Arkansas expects to see $370 million over the same time period. The savings and increased revenues fall into three major categories: 1) State savings from using new federal funds; 2) State savings from enhanced federal matching; 3) Revenue gains from provider and insurer taxes/fees.
The full issue brief, complete with a summary table of Medicaid-related savings and revenues in both states, can be found here.
GHF Welcomes New Navigator!
Pranaya Rana joined Georgians for a Healthy Future this week as our new Navigator! In this role, Pranaya will work with consumers to help them enroll in health insurance through the Marketplace. Pranaya is a former Lieutenant from the Nepalese Army Elite Forces. He has served as a U.N. Peacekeeper in post-earthquake Haiti and as a Refugee Resettlement Program Officer in Connecticut before he came to Kennesaw State University, Georgia to pursue his Ph.D. in International Conflict Management in 2012. He has been working as a certified Healthcare Navigator in Metro Atlanta since the first open enrollment began in 2013. He recently completed his 6 months long Navigator’s term at Georgia Watch before joining Georgians For a Healthy Future. He specializes in refugees and international communities and has served a wide variety of international communities enroll into affordable healthcare using a community specific service model developed through continued outreach, education and needs assessment. He is Fluent in Nepali and Hindi besides English, and, speaks Urdu and intermediate French. If you’d like to contact Pranaya by email or at 404-567-5016.
Using your Coverage: Tax-Time Special Enrollment Period
Did you go without health insurance in 2014 and are now subject to a tax penalty? Good news! – You may still be able to enroll in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Starting last Saturday, March 15th, some people who are facing a fine on their taxes for not having coverage can now enroll in the Marketplace through a time-limited special enrollment period. To be eligible for this special enrollment period, you must not be currently enrolled in health insurance, attest that you owe the penalty for 2014, and attest that you first became aware of the penalty when you filed your 2014 taxes. This tax-related special enrollment period will run through April 30th, 2015. Click here to learn more about who can qualify for this special enrollment period.
Health Advocates Day at the Capitol – 3/25
Please join us on Wednesday, March 25, from 8:45 am to mid-day for a morning of advocacy! GHF will provide individuals and organizations with the opportunity to advocate for the important health issues that matter to you in the closing days of this legislative session. You may want to advocate for closing the coverage gap, Medicaid payment parity, raising the tobacco tax, rural health care access, or another health policy issue. You’re all invited to participate! We’ll provide breakfast, an advocacy training, and an opportunity to share and network with other health advocates.
Mark your calendars! Please join GHF and Laura Colbert for a post-legislative session webinar. The webinar is free and will provide a review of bills, resolutions, and other actions taken by the Georgia General Assembly that will affect health care and health policy in our state.
Today is the 29th day of the 2015 Legislative Session. That means that tomorrow, Friday March 13, is crossover day. GHF Executive Director Cindy Zeldin on what crossover day is and what it means for the rest of the legislative session.
The day before crossover day is a day of uncertainties. Because of that, we will send out an email Monday with a full update and analysis on where legislation important to consumers’ health care stands. For a compete list tracking health related bills – click here.
More Good News about Georgia’s Open Enrollment Numbers!
Last month it was announced that over half a million Georgians enrolled in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Now a new report released by the Department of Health and Human Services contains even more encouraging data about the state of enrollment in Georgia. According to the report, 31% of Georgians that enrolled were between the ages of 18-34, which is a key age group since they tend to be healthier than older adults. Additionally, 90% of Georgians that selected a plan through the Marketplace received financial assistance in the form of Advanced Premium Tax Credits. The average monthly premium for Georgians using a tax credit was $73. Click here to see the full report. Georgians for a Healthy Future’s ED talked with the Augusta Chronicle about why these numbers are so encouraging for Georgia.
Using your coverage
Preventive Services
Did you know that thanks to the Affordable Care Act, you can receive certain preventive services at absolutely no cost? It’s true! One of the key requirements of the ACA is that insurance companies must cover recommended preventive services at no cost to the consumer – even if you haven’t met your deductible. These include services such as mammograms, annual physicals, colonoscopies, well-woman exams, cholesterol screenings, tobacco cessation, and many more. Click here for a full list of the preventive services that must be covered by all insurance companies. There is also an additional list of required services for women and a separate one for children. It’s important to take advantage of these no-cost preventive services to keep you and your family healthy. Evidence shows that preventive services can save lives and improve health by identifying illnesses earlier, managing them more effectively, and treating them before they become complicated and debilitating conditions.
If you have any questions about your insurance, please contact our Consumer Education Specialist, Whitney Griggs by email or at 404-567-5016 x 5
Medicaid Minute
States across the country are closing their coverage gaps! The map above shows the 29 states (including DC) that have chosen to expand Medicaid. Seven additional states are in discussions – below is a quick update on those states and their debates.
Idaho: Governor Butch Otter’s Medicaid Redesign Workgroup voted in November 2014 to recommend pursuing total health care system transformation, which includes Medicaid expansion. In addition to the Governor’s support, the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry is helping to draft Medicaid expansion legislation, and a coalition of hospitals, providers, and consumer groups is working to support that legislation.
Tennessee: In late 2014, Governor Bill Haslam announced he had reached a deal with CMS to close the coverage gap. Governor Haslam’s plan, Insure Tennessee, had the support of the hospital industry (who had agreed to fund any costs that would fall onto the state), the business community, and a strong consumer coalition. Unfortunately, Insure Tennessee failed to make it out of committee during special session in early 2015.
Utah: Governor Gary Herbert’s plan to close the coverage gap, Healthy Utah, has strong support from hospitals, businesses, county commissioners, the criminal justice community, and church leaders, and it recently passed in the Senate. However, the House has passed an alternative proposal, Utah Cares, that would provide much more limited coverage to only a portion of the population in the coverage gap. With just a few days left in the legislative session, it remains to be seen whether the legislature will reach a compromise that will close the coverage gap this year.
Maine: In 2013 and again in 2014, the Democratic-controlled legislature passed several bills to close the coverage gap, only to have them vetoed by Governor Paul LePage. Even though Republicans took control of the Senate in 2014, advocates believe there are still enough votes to pass compromise legislation. Hospitals, who had remained largely on the sidelines the past two years, are now fully engaged in the campaign to close the coverage gap there.
Alaska: Recently-elected Independent Governor Bill Walker announced plans to expand Medicaid, but there will likely be roadblocks in the Republican-dominated legislature. Hospitals are on board.
Montana: Governor Steve Bullock is strongly supportive of closing the coverage gap, and has his own proposal for doing so. It is unlikely that a bill will pass the Republican-controlled legislature.
Wyoming: Governor Matt Mead developed a plan to close the coverage gap in 2015, and a key House committee developed a competing plan. But just a few days after the special session to close the gap in Tennessee failed, the Wyoming Senate shot down Governor Mead’s expansion plan, and the House committee then pulled its bill.
Join us for Health Advocates Day at the Capitol!
Please join us on Wednesday, March 25, from 8:45 am to mid-day for a morning of advocacy! GHF will provide individuals and organizations with the opportunity to advocate for the important health issues that matter to you in the closing days of this legislative session. You may want to advocate for closing the coverage gap, Medicaid payment parity, raising the tobacco tax, the Family Care Act, rural health care access, or another health policy issue. You’re all invited to participate! We’ll provide breakfast, an advocacy training, and an opportunity to share and network with other health advocates.
Mark your calendars! Please join GHF and Laura Colbert for a post-legislative session webinar. The webinar is free and will provide a review of bills, resolutions, and other actions taken by the Georgia General Assembly that will affect health care and health policy in our state.
Yesterday marked the 27th day of the 2015 Legislative Session. Crossover Day, the 30th legislative day and the deadline for a bill to pass its chamber of origin to remain viable for 2015, is set for next Friday, March 13th. Sine Die, the 40th and final legislative day for the year, will be April 2nd.
It has been a big week for health care issues at the State Capitol. GHF brought the consumer perspective to Senate Insurance on Wednesday and shared with the committee through testimony from our Executive Director the challenges that consumers face in obtaining accurate information about provider networks at the time they sign up for health insurance and why setting network adequacy standards is important for consumers. Her testimony was provided as part of the discussion around SB 158. Also this week, legislation was introduced in the Senate that would establish a study committee on preventing youth substance use disorders, the Senate began its work on the FY 2016 budget, and a range of other health care bills were discussed.
The State Budget: The FY 2016 Budget passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate. The Senate expects to finish their revisions to the budget this week and send it back to the House and then to a conference committee.
Medicaid Parity: Last week, the House of Representatives added $2.96 million in the budget to increase reimbursement for certain OB/GYN services and $1.5 million for reimbursement rate increases for certain primary care services. Because Medicaid parity has been shown to be an effective strategy for improving access to care, GHF supports raising Medicaid reimbursement rates to parity with Medicare rates. We are advocating for a higher appropriation amount for Medicaid reimbursement rate increases as the budget moves through the process.
SBIRT Resolution: Senate HHS Chairwoman Renee Unterman officially introduced a resolution (SR 407) to form a joint House and Senate Study Committee on preventing youth substance use disorders. Through GHF’s work with the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, we are advocating for a public health approach to substance use disorders that focuses on prevention. This resolution gets the conversation started about how to do that in Georgia. Please take the time to thank Senator Unterman for her support of this effort and to let your elected officials know you support SR 407.
SB 158 (Sen. Burke) provides certain consumer and provider protections regarding health insurance, including network adequacy language. SB 158 has been referred to the Senate Insurance Committee where it received a hearing on Wednesday, March 3. GHF Executive Director Cindy Zeldin testified in committee, focusing specifically on the network adequacy component of the bill. GHF also met with committee members individually about the bill after the committee hearing. While the bill is not expected to move in its current form this legislative session, there will likely be a study committee on the network adequacy component. GHF has identified network adequacy as an important consumer issue and plans to remain engaged on this topic as discussions move forward.
Closing the Coverage Gap: No hearings have been scheduled or are pending to address the possibility of expanding Medicaid in Georgia. Closing Georgia’s coverage gap by expanding Medicaid would open a pathway to health insurance for approximately 300,000 uninsured Georgians, an approach which GHF supports. Two bills have been introduced to address Georgia’s coverage gap (HR 226 and SB 38), although neither is expected to receive a hearing. Please thank the cosponsors of these bills, Rep. Rahn Mayo and Senator Vincent Fort, for their support and show your support by filling out a postcard that we’ll mail to your legislators!
Tobacco Tax: No additional standalone proposals have been made to increase Georgia’s tobacco tax (other than HB 445 as previously reported). The Senate however, may respond to the House proposal on transportation funding by including a tobacco tax increase to the regional average of around 68 cents. Importantly, Alabama’s Governor is proposing an increase in their state tobacco tax to $1.25 per pack, which would increase the regional average. GHF continues to advocate for an increase to the national average by raising our tobacco tax by $1.23. Such an increase would generate $585 million per year according to the fiscal note generated by the non-partisan fiscal office at GSU.
Other Bills of Interest
Below is a summary of bills that may impact health care consumers in Georgia, with information about where they are in the legislative process.
SB 1 (Sen. Bethel) provides certain insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders. SB 1 has passed the Senate and is in the House Insurance Committee.
HB 1 (Rep. Peake) would allow for the limited use of medical marijuana for conditions including cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, crohn’s disease, mitochondrial disease, fibromyalgia, parkinson’s disease, and sickle cell disease. HB 1 passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Yesterday marked the 23rd day of the 2015 Legislative Session. We are getting closer to Crossover Day, the 30th legislative day and the deadline for a bill to pass its chamber of origin to remain viable for 2015. Crossover Day is set for March 13th. Sine Die, the 40th and final legislative day for the year, will be April 2nd.
As part of this week’s legislative update, we sat down with Representative Debbie Buckner and spoke with her about access to care in rural communities, Georgia’s coverage gap, and other health care issues on her mind this Legislative Session.
To watch the video, click on the image below.
The State Budget
The FY 2016 Budget passed the House of Representatives this week and now heads to the Senate for hearings. Of note, the House of Representatives added $2.96 million in the budget to increase reimbursement for certain OB/GYN services, $1.5 million for reimbursement rate increases for certain primary care services, $1.3 million to increase the hourly rate for personal support services under the Independent Care Waiver Program, and $500,000 to increase reimbursement for air-ambulance services for adult patients. The House also added in $3 million to implement the recommendations of the Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee. The House removed $22.8 million for new treatment medications for patients with Hepatitis C and $12.1 million for costs to launch a new case management program for enrollees eligible under the Aged, Blind, & Disabled program. Also of note, the House reinstated health coverage for non-certificated part-time school employees; however, local school districts and not the state would be responsible for those costs. Click here for an analysis of the health care provisions in the budget that passed the House from our friends at the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute.
Closing the Coverage Gap
Closing Georgia’s coverage gap by expanding Medicaid would open a pathway to health insurance for approximately 300,000 uninsured Georgians. Two bills have been introduced to address Georgia’s coverage gap (HR 226 and SB 38), although neither is expected to receive a hearing. Please thank the cosponsors of these bills, Rep. Rahn Mayo and Sen. Vincent Fort, and show your support for closing the coverage gap by filling out a postcard that we’ll mail to your legislators!
Tobacco Tax
HB 445 (Carson) represents the first additional or alternative funding proposal to the transportation funding bill (HB 170). While the overall bill includes regressive provisions including an increased sales and grocery tax combined with a reduction in the income tax that GHF does not support, it is notable that a tobacco tax is in the mix in the bill. This keeps the tobacco tax on the radar and provides an opportunity for health advocates to continue to push for an increase to the national average in the tobacco tax to curb smoking rates and bring in much-needed revenue.
Other Bills of Interest
Below is a summary of bills that may impact health care consumers in Georgia, with information about where they are in the legislative process.
SB 1 (Sen. Bethel) provides certain insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders. SB 1 has passed the Senate and is the House Insurance Committee.
SB 158 (Sen. Burke) provides certain consumer and provider protections regarding health insurance, including network adequacy language. SB 158 has been referred to the Senate Insurance Committee.
HB 1 (Rep. Peake) would allow for the limited use of medical marijuana for conditions including: cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, crohn’s disease, mitochondrial disease, fibromyalgia, parkinson’s disease, and sickle cell disease. HB 1 passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
HB 195 (Rep. Cooper) and SB 51 (Burke) provides parameters for substitutions of interchangeable biological products. HB 195 passed the House Health and Human Services Committee and is expected to come out of the Rules Committee next week, and Senate Bill 51 has passed the Senate and has been assigned to the House HHS committee, but is not expected to get a hearing until after crossover day.
HB 482 (Rep. Willard) seeks to eliminate two of the requirements that the Cancer Treatment Centers of America are currently subject to when they were allowed into Georgia as a destination hospital.
HB 416 (Rep. Rogers): Routinely referred to as the badge bill, HB 416 seeks to provide clarity and transparency for the patient as to the qualifications of the provider that they are seeing. The bill calls for providers to identify the health care practitioner’s name and the type of license or educational degree the health care practitioner holds. The bill will be heard in the House HHS committee on Monday March 2, 2015 at 3 PM.
HB 34 (Rep. Dudgeon) is known as the “Right to Try” bill and calls for patients with advanced illnesses and in consultation with their doctor to use potentially life-saving investigational drugs, biological products, and devices.
Georgia’s Plan to Strengthen Rural Hospitals
Earlier this week, the Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee (RHSC), created by Governor Deal to address the needs of struggling rural hospitals and find solutions that address those needs, issued its final report. The recommendations in the report include:
A four site “Hub & Spoke” pilot program
Maintenance and protection of Certificate of Need laws
Expanded scope of practice for non-physician providers, like physicians assistants and nurse practitioners
More support for school-based health centers
The committee’s work shines a spotlight on the health care access challenges that rural Georgians face and puts forth constructive recommendations. While we support these recommendations whole-heartedly, we are also disappointed that the committee did not address the coverage gap and Medicaid expansion in its report.
Georgia Health News interviewed Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Executive Director on this issue (click here to read the full article), and in that article she pointed to the early success of states like Kentucky, which recently reported improvements and coverage rates and in health care access due to Medicaid expansion. She also encouraged policymakers to take a comprehensive approach that includes closing Georgia’s coverage gap to help get people into health insurance and provide a reimbursement stream for rural hospitals.
Back in December, Georgians for a Healthy Future, together with several consumer and community-focused organizations including the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, Georgia Watch, and Families First, submitted a report and provided public comment to the committee making a detailed case for such an approach. You can read that full report here.
Medicaid Minute
Medicaid provides health insurance to low-income families and vulnerable populations in states across the country, allowing them to access necessary health care services. In states that have opted to implement the Medicaid expansion, people are enrolling in the program and uninsured rates are plummeting. Nationwide, 10.8 million Americans gained coverage through Medicaid just between October and December 2014. Unfortunately, these coverage gains vary widely among states. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, states that expanded Medicaid saw a 27 percent increase in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment in the last year, while non-expansion states saw only a 7 percent increase. Too many Georgians are still stuck in the coverage gap. Fill out an e-postcard that we’ll send to your legislators letting them know that it’s time Georgia fixed this problem and closed its coverage gap.
What is a 1095-A? And other burning questions about health insurance and tax filing?
If you are a consumer who enrolled in health insurance through the Marketplace with a tax credit, you likely received a 1095-A form in the mail. You may also have some questions about how to complete the health insurance information on your tax filing form. If your organization works directly with consumers, either providing enrollment assistance or helping them with tax preparation, you may also be hearing about the 1095-A and may have some questions about how health insurance and tax filings intersect. Below is a primer, replete with flow chart, which breaks it all down for you.
Where consumers get their coverage—Marketplace, employer, Medicaid—will determine the impact coverage has on their taxes. Consumers who have health insurance through their jobs will likely see no changes when they file their taxes – they just check the box on their tax forms indicating they had coverage throughout the year. The same thing applies to consumers who are covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or their parent’s health plan. Pretty simple!
During this year’s open enrollment period, 536,929 Georgians purchased health insurance through Healthcare.gov and about 90% received financial assistance to help lower the cost of their premiums. To keep that tax credit, they’ll have to fill out Form 8962, which asks questions about their health insurance and their income. To help complete that form, all consumers that received a tax credit should have received Form 1095-A in the mail from the Marketplace. Consumers can also find this form on their Healthcare.gov account.
The health insurance tax credit is based on income and household size. When consumers applied for coverage, they estimated their income for the coming year and that amount was used to determine their tax credit. If a consumer misestimated their income, the credit they received may be too high or too low. During the tax filing process, the difference between estimated and actual income is reconciled, and the corresponding tax credit may be adjusted up or down. This means some consumers may get a refund and some consumers may have to pay back part of their tax credit. If a consumer did not apply for a tax credit previously, they can apply for a credit to be included in their tax refund.
If a consumer went without health care coverage at any point in the year, they may need to fill out an additional Form 8965 to determine whether or not they will need to pay a fine. This year the maximum fee per family will be $285, but fines will increase each year, up to 2% of a person’s annual income. If a person falls into Georgia’s coverage gap, they will not have to pay the fine, but will need to file the appropriate documents to prove they do not have access to affordable coverage
Household, family, and income changes should be reported throughout the year to Healthcare.gov in order to avoid surprises at tax time.
If you have questions about how your health coverage may affect your taxes, consult a tax professional. Our partners at Georgia Watch can connect you with free tax preparation help—just click here.
So You Have Coverage…Now What?
If you have recently gained health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, it may seem like you need to learn a whole new language to understand your coverage. Health insurance can be confusing, especially if you have never had it before or haven’t had it in a while. Just understanding a few key terms, such as premium, deductible and co-pay, will go a long way in helping you use your health insurance effectively. Click here for a simple guide to help you understand your new coverage. Additionally, if you are having trouble using your health insurance you can contact Whitney Griggs, GHF’s Consumer Education Specialist, at wgriggs@healthyfuturega.org or at (404) 567-5016, extension 5.
Action Alert: CHIP in Danger
Federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), known as PeachCare for Kids in Georgia, expires in September 2015. More than 200,000 Georgia kids rely on this program for access to health care services. The U.S. Congress has signaled that it is willing to consider extending CHIP funding. This is great news. However, some of the discussion include provisions that provide access barriers. Some concerning provisions include the removal of protections that were included in the ACA, an optional 12-month waiting period for coverage, and cuts to CHIP funding for certain groups of children in some states. (Click here for a full analysis of the draft plan.) You can help by telling your legislators to pass a clean renewal of CHIP funding that does not impose barriers to enrollment and coverage for kids. Here are some ways to get in touch:
Write a letter or call your congressman. Click here to see suggested language from our partners, Voices for Georgia’s Children. Click here to find your congressman, senator and their contact information.
Tweet at your representatives in congress. See the list below for their Twitter handles. Use the hashtags #ExtendCHIP #keepkidscovered and #CHIPWorks
Share this image from Voices for Georgia’s Children (@georgiavoices) on social media to spread the word.
Senate
Johnny Isakson
@SenatorIsakson 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
David Perdue
@sendavidperdue 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
House
Buddy Carter (1st District)
@RepBuddyCarter 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Sanford Bishop Jr. (2nd District)
@SanfordBishop 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Lynn Westmoreland (3rd District)
@RepWestmoreland 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Hank Johnson Jr. (4th District)
@RepHankJohnson 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
John Lewis (5th District)
@repjohnlewis 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Tom Price (6th District)
@RepTomPrice 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Rob Woodall (7th District)
@RepRobWoodall 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Austin Scott (8th District)
@AustinScottGA08 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Doug Collins (9th ,District)
@RepDougCollins 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Barry Loudermilk (11th District)
@RepLoudermilk 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Rick Allen (12th District)
@RepRickAllen 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
David Scott (13th District)
@repdavidscott 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Tom Graves (14th District)
@RepTomGraves 200,000 GA kids rely on PeachCare to receive the critical care they need. #ExtendCHIP so we can #keepkidscovered #CHIPWorks (Click here to tweet this)
Today marked the 19th day of the 2015 Legislative Session (almost at the halfway point)! Crossover Day, the 30th legislative day and the deadline for a bill to pass its chamber of origin to remain viable for 2015, is set for March 13th. Sine Die, the 40th and final legislative day for the year, will be April 2nd.
As part of this week’s legislative update, we caught up with Senator Chuck Hufstetler and spoke with him about his proposal to increase the state’s tobacco tax by $1.23, which would bring Georgia up to the national average. According to a fiscal note released this week by Georgia State University at legislative request, this increase would yield more than $500 million in new revenue. To read more about the tobacco tax, download our one pager. To see the media coverage, check out our “In the News” page.
Other issues we’re watching include:
The State Budget
Our friends over at the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute have put together an analysis of the health care spending within the proposed 2016 state budget. Click here to read GBPI’s health care budget overview.
Medicaid Payment Parity
This week, the House Appropriations Health Subcommittee held a hearing on the FY 2016 Budget. A range of organizations and individuals provided testimony in support of payment parity, citing the evidence that shows provider rate increases result in better access to care for patients and consumers. Georgians for a Healthy Future spoke in support of payment parity at the hearing.
Closing the Coverage Gap
Closing Georgia’s coverage gap by expanding Medicaid would open a pathway to health insurance for approximately 300,000 uninsured Georgians. Two bills have been introduced to address Georgia’s coverage gap (HR 226 and SB 38), although neither is expected to receive a hearing. Please thank the cosponsors of these bills for their support and show your support by filling out a postcard that we’ll mail to your legislators!
More than half a million Georgians enroll in Marketplace health insurance
Open Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace ended Sunday and over half a million Georgians enrolled in plans through the Marketplace! Georgia’s enrollment was the fourth highest of states using the Federally Facilitated Marketplace, trailing only behind Texas, Florida, and North Carolina. The state’s enrollment numbers passed the 500,000 mark in large part due to a last minute surge in sign-ups. This year’s enrollment numbers greatly exceed last year’s exchange enrollments of 316,543. Nationally, 11.4 million Americans selected plans or were automatically re-enrolled through the Marketplace. Click here to learn more about Georgia’s enrollment numbers.
For Georgians who begun the enrollment process prior to the deadline but, due to issues with either healthcare.gov or call centers, were unable to complete their enrollment, CMS has extended a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). These people are “in line” and still eligible to enroll this year. This SEP will end February 22nd. If you or someone you know thinks they qualify for this extended enrollment period visit HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.
Miss open enrollment? You may still be able to get coverage!
Open Enrollment has officially ended but some Georgians that missed signing up during the three month period may be able to still get coverage. Those “in line” during this last three days of Open Enrollment who were unable to select a plan due to long call center wait times or technical issues have until Sunday, February 22 to enroll. In this circumstance, coverage will begin March 1st. Otherwise, consumers who have a “qualifying event” may be able to get coverage through a Special Enrollment Period. Special Enrollment Periods can occur at any time during the year and are usually triggered by specific events. These events include life changes such as a marriage, birth, change in eligible immigration status and a permanent move. Another type of event that could qualify consumers is a loss of other health coverage. These types of events could include an involuntary loss of employer coverage, loss of Medicaid coverage, and a death or divorce that results in a loss of coverage. In most cases, the Special Enrollment Period lasts for 60 days after the qualifying event occurs. To learn more about what types of events could trigger a Special Enrollment period, click here. If you think you may qualify, visit https://www.healthcare.gov/get-coverage or https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/ to find in-person assistance in your area.
Additionally, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services just announced a Special Enrollment Period for tax season for consumers who were penalized for not having coverage in 2014 and are not currently enrolled in health insurance. To qualify for this Special Enrollment Period consumers must also attest that they were not aware of the penalty for not having health insurance until after the end of Open Enrollment (February 15th , 2015) because they filed their 2014 tax return after that date. This Special Enrollment Period will begin March 15th and end April 30th, 2015. Click here to learn more about the announcement.
GHF welcomes new Consumer Education Specialist
Whitney joined Georgians for a Healthy Future this week as our Consumer Education Specialist. In this role, Whitney will educate consumers who have questions about how to understand and use their health insurance as well as assist consumers who encounter problems with their insurance plan. Whitney will also be on the lookout for patterns that can help inform GHF’s policy and advocacy work in the area of private health insurance. Whitney comes to GHF from the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia, where she was lead health navigator. As a health insurance navigator, Whitney provided enrollment assistance for the Health Insurance Marketplace to consumers in rural Georgia. In this role she also conducted extensive outreach throughout the state to inform consumers about the Affordable Care Act and the new health insurance options available under the law. Prior to her role as a navigator, Whitney worked for Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies as an Information and Resource Specialist for their health care referral service, called the Powerline. In this position she helped find and verify health care providers throughout the state for the referral line. Whitney has also worked in the Child Life Division at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Whitney earned her B.S. in Psychology with a focus on Biological Psychology from Clemson University. Whitney can be reached at wgriggs@healthyfuturega.org. Please welcome her to Georgians for a Healthy Future!
National partner features our collaboration with the Diverse Elders Coalition and the Bhutanese Association of Georgia
Check out Community Catalyst’s blog featuring the collaboration between GHF, the Diverse Elders Coalition, and BAG to help Bhutanese refugees living in Clarkston, Georgia enroll in health insurance!
Medicaid Minute
New data released from Kentucky show the success of Kentucky’s Medicaid expansion program. Here are a few quick highlights.
375,000 Kentuckians got covered
Hospitals gained more than $500 million in just the first year
12,000 new jobs were created (with an additional 28,000 jobs expected over the next 7 years)
Uncompensated care in hospitals fell 60%
Estimated costs of expansion in current and subsequent biennial budget are more than offset by savings and new revenues generated from economic activity resulting from new health care spending
Choosing not to expand would have cost the state about $100 million
Fill out our survey and tell your legislators know it’s time for Georgia to close its coverage gap!
Today marked the fifteenth day of the 2015 Legislative Session—we’re more than one-third of the way through already! Crossover Day, the 30th legislative day and the deadline for a bill to pass its chamber of origin to remain viable for 2015, is set for March 13th. Sine Die, the 40th and final legislative day for the year, will be April 2nd.
Georgians for a Healthy Future is monitoring and advocating on bills of importance to health care consumers in Georgia. As part of this week’s legislative update, we spoke with Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Charlie Bethel about the legislation moving through his committee and about his priorities with respect to health care policy in Georgia. This conversation also includes a discussion of Senate Bill 1, which would provide for certain insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders.
Other issues we’re watching include:
The State Budget
Our friends over at the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute have put together an analysis of the health care spending within the proposed 2016 state budget. Click here to read GBPI’s health care budget overview.
Medicaid Payment Parity
Last week, Sen. Unterman talked to us about her request for $60 million to restore Medicaid payment parity. Sen. Unterman and advocates continue to work with the health appropriations chairmen in both chambers, but no decisions have been made to date.
Closing the Coverage Gap
Closing Georgia’s coverage gap by expanding Medicaid would open a pathway to health insurance for approximately 300,000 uninsured Georgians. Two bills have been introduced to address Georgia’s coverage gap (HR 226 and SB 38), although neither is expected to receive a hearing. Please thank the cosponsors of these bills for their support and show your support by filling out a postcard that we’ll mail to your legislators!
Tobacco Tax
Georgians for a Healthy Future and our coalition partners continue to support a $1.23/pack increase in Georgia’s tobacco tax to bring us in line with the national average, decrease smoking rates, and bring in needed revenue for health care investments in our state. Click here for our new fact sheet on why Georgia should increase the tobacco tax. While no legislation has been introduced this session to increase the tobacco tax, we expect it may enter the mix as legislators discuss transportation funding.
We will continue to monitor this issue and will let you know when advocacy opportunities arise.
Time is running out – get covered today!
Open enrollment is quickly coming to a close, ending this Sunday, February 15th. If you haven’t gotten covered yet or you know someone who doesn’t have coverage, don’t wait! Act now before Sunday’s deadline. Click here to find a Navigator near you or visit healthcare.gov to sign up. These Georgians got covered and you can too!
Cornelia, a recent college graduate, had coverage on her parents’ plan…until she turned 26 and became ineligible. She really wanted to stay with the same insurer, but also needed an affordable plan. She applied and found that she qualified for a plan with the same carrier with even better coverage for less money. After her subsidy, Cornelia’s plan cost her only $83 per month.
Scott Quimby found an enrollment event near his home by visiting getcoveredamerica.org. He and his wife were able to enroll in a plan, which is a big deal because his wife had a pre-existing condition. She had suffered brain trauma previously and expressed how grateful she was that she could get covered at an affordable price because of the Affordable Care Act: “I know I made the best decision because I came and got help.”
Mechul had gone uninsured previously—for six years—going to the ER when he was seriously ill. He lost coverage when he turned 18, having been enrolled in Medicaid until then as a foster child under his grandmother’s care. He was told when he was younger he was pre-diabetic and felt anxious not have a way of getting regular care. In March, he went to healthcare.gov to try to enroll but then decided to a navigator to get more information, and finally completed enrollment himself at home. He found a no cost silver-level plan, which was great because cost was the most important factor for him. Now Mechul is employed and will get coverage through his employer, but he said it was a relief and gave him peace of mind to have health insurance there when he needed it.
If you or someone you know has an enrollment success story they’d like to share, let us know! With your help, others can get covered and stay covered.
King v. Burwell — What’s at stake for Georgia?
On March 4th, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in King v. Burwell, a lawsuit challenging the tax credits that consumers utilizing the federal Health Insurance Marketplace receive to help make health insurance affordable. Consumers in thirty-four states, including Georgia, use the federal Marketplace to find and enroll in coverage. Nearly nine out of 10 people who enrolled in coverage through healthcare.gov received financial help and paid 75 percent less than the full monthly premium. This has helped bring the nation’s uninsured rate to an historic low.
A study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute found that the majority of health care consumers who would be impacted and who would likely become uninsured if the tax credits were struck down live in the South. Here in Georgia, hundreds of thousands of people are at risk for becoming uninsured.
We believe there is no legal basis for this challenge and that in June, when a decision comes down, we’ll all breathe a sigh of relief. If the court does, however, strike down the tax credits, such a decision would disproportionately impact the South and would put states like Georgia at a competitive disadvantage by exacerbating existing regional health disparities. If this comes to pass, Georgians for a Healthy Future will advocate for a contingency plan to ensure that Georgians have the same access to tax credits that their counterparts in states like New York, California, Colorado, and Kentucky (states that set up their own health insurance exchanges) have.
Our friends at Families USA have put together a resource page for advocates interested in learning more about King v. Burwell. Click here to find out everything you need to know about the case!
Medicaid Minute
This week, we learned that the Tennessee legislature failed to pass the Insure TN plan. This is a big disappointment for the 300,000 Tennesseans who fall into the coverage gap and who could have had access to health insurance if the Tennessee plan moved forward. This outcome shows how important it is to garner support from elected officials on both sides of the aisle. There are lessons we can learn for our work here in Georgia. Thank you to all of the Georgia advocates who continue to reach out to your legislators across the state to let them know you support closing Georgia’s coverage gap. If you’d like to get involved and join the Cover Georgia coalition, email Laura Colbert.
With this week’s legislative update, we bring the Gold Dome to you! Our biggest update this week is that Senator Renee Unterman is making a $60 million appropriations ask in the state budget to maintain Medicaid payment parity. Medicaid payment parity is an effective strategy to increase access to health care services for low-income children and families enrolled in Medicaid (click here to learn more about what payment parity is and why it matters for health care access). Your GHF team was at the Capitol this week to talk with Senator Unterman about her proposal.
Also this week, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health held a hearing that included discussion about Medicaid payment parity. No decisions were made at the hearing but we expect the topic will come up again. What can advocates do? Contact one or more of these legislators!
Call or email Senator Unterman and thank her for leading the charge on this important initiative!
Call or send an email to Senator Burke, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health, and Representative Butch Parrish, who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health, and thank them for their support on Medicaid payment parity.
Contact Senate Appropriations Chair Jack Hill and House Appropriations Chair Terry England and let them know you support Medicaid payment parity.
Other issues we’re watching.
Medicaid Expansion
There has been no action to date on closing the coverage gap by expanding Medicaid. Please contact your legislators and the leaders of the Health and Human Services and Appropriations Committees to ask them to hold hearings on this important issue.
Click here to let your state senator and representative know that you support closing Georgia’s coverage gap.
Tobacco Tax
Georgians for a Healthy Future and our coalition partners continue to support a $1.23/pack increase in Georgia’s tobacco tax to bring us in line with the national average, decrease smoking rates, and bring in needed revenue for health care investments in our state. All eyes in the House and Senate have been on the transportation funding proposal unveiled last week on the House side, which did not include an increase in the tobacco tax. However, the Senate is expected to take a more diversified approach in this area and the possibility of a tobacco tax increase may be on the table. We will continue to monitor this issue and will let you know when advocacy opportunities arise.
Other Health-Related Bills
Senate Bill 1, which would require insurance companies to provide limited autism benefits for Georgians enrolled in certain individual and small group plans passed the Senate and is now on the House side. A hearing has not been scheduled for the bill on the House side.
Senate Bill 74, which would authorize tax credits for donors to health charity organizations, has been introduced in the Senate and referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
Knowledge is power: Terry’s enrollment story
“This is your health we’re talking about. How important is it to you?” Terry Stidom, an Atlanta health care consumer, cares about his health and is glad about his decision to get covered. “It became a no-brainer,” he said about his decision to enroll in a health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace last year. This year, with the increase in providers and plans available in Georgia, he was able to find an even more affordable, comprehensive plan. What does he love about his plan? “[It] includes medical, dental, vision, no deductible, low doctor visit co-pays, I get $20 a month in cash back just for going to a gym at least 8 times per month — the list goes on.” While Terry researched his options and signed up on his own, he encourages others to seek help. “As you sit and look at each plan, don’t be intimidated by the numbers. If you’re unsure, call someone to help you. Knowledge is power!”
Open enrollment ends February 15th – don’t miss out on the opportunity to find the plan right for you and your family. Click here to find a Navigator in your area and get covered today!
If you or someone you know has an enrollment success story they’d like to share, let us know! With your help, others can get covered and stay covered.
2015 Advocate’s Guides are Here!
Each year Georgians for a Healthy Future develops our signature A Consumer Health Advocate’s Guide to the Legislative Session, and the 2015 editions are in! Whether you are an individual interested in contacting your legislators to let them know you care about health care issues or if you work for an advocacy group and want to get multiple copies for your volunteers, we’re happy to get the guides into your hands. We create them each year to help you be a better advocate.
In this year’s guide, you will find:
Detailed legislative process overview
Listing of all representatives and senators, their offices and numbers
Key contacts in the governor’s office and relevant agency staff
Members of key committees and subcommittees
Contact information for other health advocate organizations
Media contacts
Tips to make you an effective advocate
You can download a PDF version or contact Laura Colbert and arrange to pick up hard copies from GHF’s office.
Medicaid Minute
CMS has approved Indiana’s plan to expand health care coverage for low-income Hoosiers through a waiver program known as Healthy Indiana. This is great news for the 350,000 Indianans who will now have access to health care coverage. The Healthy Indiana plan, however, includes some features that raise concerns, such as a 6-month lock out policy for people with low incomes who can’t afford to make payments on premiums. Some of these features could create barriers to access. For a breakdown of the pros and cons of the Healthy Indiana plan and what advocates should be watching, see this analysis from our friends at the Georgetown Center on Children and Families.
Infographic of the Week
Your voice is needed!
We all know how crucial closing the coverage gap is – it would improve access to health care services for low-income Georgians, bolster our state’s health care delivery system, and strengthen local economies throughout Georgia. We are asking our legislators to schedule hearings on this issue, and we need your help! Last year, the legislature sent the message with HB 990 that they wanted to be part of the conversation around finding a Georgia solution to cover the uninsured. We have yet to see them take steps towards opening up that debate. Tell your legislators that it is time to close the coverage gap. Send them an e-postcard telling them why you think covering the uninsured should be a priority for the 2015 legislative session.
The Legislature has completed eight days of the 40-day session and will convene Monday through Wednesday next week. There will also be several committee hearings next week, including:
1) Senate Appropriations Community Health subcommittee meeting Tuesday at 3 PM in CLOB 307. The agenda for this hearing will feature testimony about the importance of maintaining Medicaid parity for primary care providers in Georgia.
2) Senate Health and Human Services committee meeting on Tuesday at 1 PM in CAP 450 (Agenda to be announced).
3) House Health and Human Services committee meeting on Monday at 3 PM in CLOB 606 to discuss HB 47.
Committee meetings are open to the public and we encourage health-focused advocates to attend. Of course, your Georgians for a Healthy Future team is monitoring legislative developments and advocating for our priority issues throughout the legislative session and we will keep you informed about key opportunities for advocacy as they emerge. Below is a status report on the issues Georgians for a Healthy Future is supporting this year.
Closing Georgia’s Coverage Gap: There has not yet been any legislative activity in this area, as the General Assembly has been focused on addressing the transportation funding issue. Georgians for a Healthy Future supports holding hearings on the need to close Georgia’s coverage gap as a first step to achieving this legislative priority. Please contact your Representative and Senator and tell them you support holding hearings on Medicaid expansion this year. You can find your legislators here.
Increasing Georgia’s Tobacco Tax: There has been early momentum around increasing Georgia’s tobacco tax, and a bill has been drafted to increase the state excise tax on cigarettes by $1.23 per pack. The bill also includes a comparable increase on other tobacco products. This bill is awaiting a fiscal note from the state, which we expect to be completed by the first week in February. See our one-pager on how increasing the tobacco tax can help reduce smoking and improve health in Georgia. Georgians for a Healthy Future is proud to be part of a coalition of health organizations working on this important issue—please stay tuned for updates on this issue once the fiscal note is in!
Medicaid Payment Parity: Georgians for a Healthy Future supports maintaining payment parity for primary care providers (see this week’s Medicaid Minute for an explanation of how this improves access to care for Georgia patients) by restoring the temporary reimbursement rate hike that expired at the end of 2014. Senator Renee Unterman has proposed a $60 million appropriation for this, and Medicaid payment parity will be a topic of conversation at next week’s Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing (on Tuesday at 3pm). This hearing presents an opportunity to weigh in with your state legislators to let them know you support the payment bump and to ask them to include it in the FY 2016 Budget.
Coverage Day at the Capitol Recap
This past Tuesday was Coverage Day at the Capitol! Laura Colbert, GHF’s Community Outreach Manager, spearheaded the day with the help of many Cover Georgia partner organizations. The opportunity to talk with legislators about the coverage gap drew about 75 advocates and volunteers to the State Capitol. After an advocacy training session, the group met with their legislators throughout the morning by “working the ropes.” The group reconvened for lunch and a press briefing, covered by both WABE and the Georgia Report! Members of the Cover Georgia coalition displayed their information, materials, and projects in the Capitol Rotunda throughout the afternoon. It was a full day of advocacy in support of closing Georgia’s coverage gap! We’re hoping that Georgia’s legislators heard our message loud and clear – it’s time to start talking about closing Georgia’s coverage gap!
GHF Receives MLK Community Service Award
GHF celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day last week by receiving an award at Emory University’s 23rd annual MLK Community Service Awards. This year’s award program recognized organizations that work to address injustices in the Atlanta community, often before those injustices become headlines. Harry Heiman, out-going board chair, and Laura Colbert accepted the award on GHF’s behalf. In Harry’s acceptance speech, he remembered Dr. King’s quote: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” GHF works hard to ensure equal access to high quality, affordable health care for all Georgians. We are honored to accept this award and congratulate the other very deserving awardees.
Medicaid Minute
Georgia’s Medicaid patients could face longer wait times for doctor’s appointments without legislative action. That’s because a nation-wide bump in primary care provider reimbursement rates expired at the end of 2014, triggering a need for state action. This temporary rate bump resulted in an average eight percent increase in appointment availability, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study examined ten states, including Georgia, and concluded that payment rate increases are an effective strategy for enhancing access to primary care services. According to a participating physician in Texas, his practice was able to double the amount of Medicaid patients seen during the two year time the pay bump was in effect. By restoring the rate bump, known as Medicaid payment parity, Georgia policymakers can help ensure patients get timely access to primary care in an appropriate setting and help keep patients from ending up in the emergency room.
GHF Board Changes
With the New Year, GHF kicks of a new board. Kathy Floyd has stepped into the position of board chair, taking the reins from Harry Heiman. A board member of several years, we know she will bring strong leadership and vision to our growing organization. We are also thankful for Harry’s incredible run and accomplishments as board chair during a period of growth for GHF. We are excited to welcome new board members Danté McKay, Jay Berkelhamer, Natalie Hernandez, and Monica Ponder! Each brings substantial experience and expertise and we’re excited to have them as part of the GHF team. As the same time, we are sad to see wonderful partners rolling off the board. Julie Edelson, Marci Thomas, Jeffery Graham, Sylvia Caley, and Iris Feinberg have all finished their board terms and, while we will miss them, we hope they will enjoy their newfound free time!
Please join us this coming Tuesday, January 27, from 9 am to noon for a day of advocacy! GHF and the Cover Georgia coalition have planned a full day of activities to raise awareness about the important role that coverage plays in the health and financial security of all Georgians and to ask our legislators to close Georgia’s coverage gap. More than 15 organizations are already participating, and it’s not too late to join us! We’ll provide breakfast and lunch, an advocacy training, and opportunities to share your materials and personal health care stories at our afternoon Capitol Rotunda display.
The legislative session opened last week, and health care is already a hot topic. Here is what we have learned in the first week and a half:
It’s budget week! Governor Deal released his budget on Friday, and legislators have been holding budget hearings all week. Here are two aspects of the health care budget that have our attention:
The proposed budget eliminates State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) coverage for non-certificated school employees (bus drivers, custodians, etc) who work less than 30 hours a week. State officials estimate it will affect more than 11,000 state employees. We’re still sifting through the details, but we’re very concerned that some of those employees may fall into the coverage gap if they lose coverage through the SHBP.
There is no money in the state budget to sustain the primary care reimbursement rate increase that was temporarily funded with federal dollars. This temporary bump made it easier for patients in Georgia and other states to get medical appointments and access care.
There has also been some early momentum at the Capitol around an increase in the tobacco tax, one of Georgians for a Healthy Future’s legislative priorities! As bills and budget items impacting health care in Georgia are introduced and discussed, we will keep you posted and identify opportunities for advocacy. We’ll be at the Gold Dome throughout the session so look for updates and alerts in each Peach Pulse!
Thank you for making Health Care Unscrambled a huge success!
Thank you to those of you who joined us for our fifth annual Health Care Unscrambled policy breakfast on January 15! This year’s event featured two powerhouse panels: a bipartisan legislative discussion and a panel that focused on the recent experiences of Kentucky and Arkansas, two Southern states that are moving forward with innovative plans to cover their uninsured and improve population health, and featured the insights of a national expert.
This year’s Health Care Unscrambled also provided an opportunity for Georgia health care advocates, policymakers, stakeholders, and consumers to come together just as the 2015 Legislative Session got underway to focus our attention on the most pressing health policy issues facing our state, including a robust discussion about the coverage gap. Senator Dean Burke said that while last year he would have said there was a 0 out of 10 chance for Georgia to close the gap, this year he moved it to a 5 out of 10. We’re excited about these improved chances and will continue to advocate for movement this legislative session!
We wrapped up the event with a reveal of our 2015 legislative priorities, which you can find here. You can read Georgia Health News’s coverage of the event here.
GHF goes to Washington
This week, Cindy and Anna are representing Georgians for a Healthy Future at Families USA’s Health Action 2015 conference! We’re getting inspiration from national leaders, learning about best practices from experts and advocates doing great work around the country, and sharing our own experiences advocating for Georgia health care consumers. GHF’s Executive Director Cindy Zeldin spoke on a workshop panel about how to advocate for consumers enrolled in private health insurance. Check out Facebook and Twitter through Saturday for conference updates!
Story collecting with Mercy Care
GHF partnered with Mercy Care to kick off the legislative session by collecting the stories of people who fall in the coverage gap. As the governor was being inaugurated and our legislators were being sworn in, we talked to Mercy Care’s patients how health care coverage would help them. Everyone we talked to expressed that health care coverage would help them go back to work, take better care of their family, or better manage their health. We will be sharing these stories on Coverage Day through social media and in person as we talk with policy makers about the importance of closing the coverage gap. HealthSTAT and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council were critical partners for this story collection effort!
If you are in the coverage gap and would like to share your health care story with us, click here .
Medicaid Minute
Last year, the number of uninsured Americans declined, fewer adults reported difficulties paying for medical bills and medical debt, and fewer adults delayed care because of cost. These encouraging findings, which come from the Commonwealth Fund’s Biennial Health Insurance Survey, are great news for patients and consumers. These coverage and access gains, however, were not experienced evenly across the country. People living in states (like Georgia) that haven’t expanded Medicaid were more likely to be uninsured and to face burdensome medical bills than those living in states that have expanded Medicaid. Let’s not leave Georgia patients and consumers behind-let’s close the coverage gap!
With the holiday season upon us and the 2015 Legislative Session just around the corner, the health of our state’s children and families is at the top of all of our minds. Georgians for a Healthy Future has focused heavily on promoting policies that ensure a pathway to coverage and meaningful access to care for all Georgians in recent years, but identifying and advocating for policies that improve health outcomes is also close to our hearts. In that spirit, we believe it is time to act on tobacco, which is the leading cause of preventable disease and death.
Earlier this month, Georgia’s Medicaid program amended its state plan to include a comprehensive smoking cessation program. This is an important victory that will help reduce smoking in our state. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to thank Commissioner Clyde Reese for taking this important step. There is, however, more to do. We need your partnership and your voices to help us take on the biggest hurdle we face in curbing smoking and its harmful effects: increasing the tobacco tax in our state.
According to the American Lung Association’s annual state report card, Georgia scores an “F” on tobacco taxes. Georgia currently ranks as the 48th lowest tobacco tax in the country at just 37 cents per pack. Not only does this make tobacco much more accessible to youth (and all Georgians), but it takes much needed revenue off the table for Georgia as the state tries to find funding for transportation infrastructure, education, and health care coverage for Georgians.
In fact, Georgia is so far below the national average for tobacco taxes that we could raise our tax by over a dollar per pack and still just be at the national average. That is why this year GHF and a coalition of supporters will propose raising Georgia’s cigarette tax by $1.23 per pack. It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
One – for the kids who we can prevent from ever starting
Two – for the improved health outcomes that smoking reductions will bring
Three – for the revenue the tobacco tax will bring to our state that can be invested in coverage, access, and prevention.
Network Adequacy: Action Alert
If you’ve been following the Peach Pulse you know that network adequacy is a hot topic in health care right now. (And if you missed it, check here and here to get caught up!) Decision-makers are weighing policy choices that will have implications for health care consumers in Georgia and across the nation. We know that they are hearing from health industry stakeholders; now they need to hear from you!
1) The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Proposed Rule on the 2016 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters is open for comment until December 22, 2014. To submit a comment, click here.
2) The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is currently updating its model act on network adequacy. This model provides an example that states can use to enact their own legal protections to guarantee private insurance consumers an adequate provider network once they are enrolled in coverage. Advocates can email jmatthews@naic.org until January 12, 2015 with input.
Consumer advocates are asking these two entities to put in place 1) specific network adequacy standards such as time and distance standards and appointment wait time standards and 2) rules that provide consumers the right to go out-of-network at no extra cost if their plan cannot provide them timely, geographically accessible, and appropriate in-network care. Please take a few moments to submit your comments to HHS and to the NAIC with this important request. If your organization is interested in engaging more deeply on this issue, please contact Laura Colbert at lcobert@healthyfuturega.org to let us know you’re interested in collaborating.
GHF Around Town
It’s been a busy couple weeks for us here at GHF. The Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee met to hear public comments two weeks ago and we were out in force! We presented our report to the committee. In addition, our own Laura Colbert and representatives from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, HealthSTAT, Jewish Community Relations Council, Georgia Legal Services, and Voices for Georgia’s Children all pressed how crucial closing the coverage gap is as a the first step to saving our rural hospitals.
The following week, the GHF team attended the 29th Biennial, a gathering of legislators and advocates from across the state. GHF spoke with members on both sides of the aisle and encouraged conversations around closing the coverage gap to give hard working Georgians the access to care they deserve.
Start the New Year right with GHF!
January is an exciting month for GHF and Georgia! With the start of the legislative session, advocates across the state will be hard at work educating our legislators and working for the changes we need to improve the health of all Georgians. GHF is no exception!
Our 5th Annual Health Care Unscrambled event is January 15th. For more information on the event, sponsorship opportunities, and ticket prices, click here.
Coverage Day at the Capitol. Please join us on the morning of January 27th to talk with your legislators about why closing the coverage gap is important to you. If you haven’t spoken with your legislators before, we will provide training and talking points to help guide you through the process. If you would like to participate, RSVP to Laura Colbert at lcolbert@healthyfuturega.org.
Webinar: Health Care Policy and Advocacy for the 2015 Legislative Session, 2015. For those of you who can’t make it to Health Care Unscrambled for the unveiling of GHF’s 2015 policy priorities or want to know how to better advocate for health in Georgia, join us for our first-ever advocacy webinar! To register for the free webinar, click here.
Medicaid Minute
This week, Tennessee announced its intention to move forward with a plan to close the coverage gap! In a statement, Governor Bill Haslam said “This plan leverages federal dollars to provide health care coverage to more Tennesseans, to give people a choice in their coverage and to address the cost of health care, better health outcomes and personal responsibility.” We are thrilled for Tennessee and hope our own elected officials will take note and work to provide a Georgia solution for our hard working, uninsured families.
Infographic of the Week!
Nykita Navigates
One month down, two to go! Already, nearly 2.5 million Americans already signed up for health insurance. Early numbers show that about half of those who have signed up are new enrollees. If you haven’t enrolled yet or want to shop around before selecting a new plan, there is still time! Click here to see Nykita’s schedule for upcoming events in your neighborhood. If you don’t see any close to home, please give her a call to set up a one-on-one appointment.
Health Insurance Hot Topic Update: Network Adequacy
With open enrollment in full swing, Georgia consumers are once again exploring their health insurance options and signing up for coverage. When consumers enroll in a health insurance plan, they gain access to a network of medical providers with whom their insurer has contracted. For health insurance to facilitate meaningful access to care, this network of providers must be adequate to ensure that consumers enrolled in the plan have reasonable access to all covered benefits and services. In a recent issue of the Peach Pulse, we provided a primer on network adequacy, a hot topic in health policy (click here to get caught up on what network adequacy means and why it matters for consumers, advocates, and policymakers). In that overview, we promised to keep you updated on policy developments around network adequacy, in particular the ongoing process at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to update its model law. This model law can provide a framework for states to establish and enforce standards to ensure that provider networks are adequate. At its fall meeting in November, the subgroup at the NAIC working on network adequacy announced it would take comments on an initial draft of proposed revisions for the model act until January 12, 2015. To learn more about this process and to see the draft, click here.
To ensure the needs of consumers are considered in this process, the NAIC consumer representatives released a report featuring the results of a survey of state Departments of Insurance and recommendations for state policymakers, regulators, and the NAIC to consider as they work on updating network adequacy standards. These recommendations include:
Establish quantitative standards for meaningful, reasonable access to care, such as minimum provider-to-enrollee ratios, reasonable wait times for appointments based on urgency of the condition, and distance standards that require access to network providers within a reasonable distance from the enrollee’s residence.
Ensure consumers are provided sufficient information to identify and select between broad, narrow or ultra-narrow networks. In areas without sufficient choice, require health plans to offer at least one plan with a broad network or an out-of-network benefit, with limited exceptions to be determined by the Commissioner.
Require health plan provider directories to be updated regularly, publicly available for both enrolled members and individuals shopping for coverage, and include standards for information that must be included to provide consumers with information on network differences and the potential financial impact on consumers depending on which plan they choose.
There are 17 recommendations in all. For advocates interested in learning more about this issue and in speaking up for consumers in this process, see the full report here.
If you would like to weigh in at the state level, please contact Georgia’s Department of Insurance and ask the Commissioner to support the NAIC’s process to revise the model act and specifically to support the consumer recommendations described above.
If you are an individual consumer enrolled in a commercial health plan and the provider directory you were given was incorrect or if you have concerns about your ability to access covered services under your plan, please contact the Georgia Office of Insurance & Fire Safety, Consumer Services Division by calling (800) 656-2298 or use the Consumer Complaint Portal at www.oci.ga.gov/ConsumerService. Please also consider sharing your story with Georgians for a Healthy Future so we can get a better picture of what is happening in our state.
Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee: Your voice is needed!
We’re hoping you read our report released two weeks ago to the Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee (RHSC) on how closing the coverage gap can help save our rural hospitals. (And if you didn’t – here is it!) This Friday, the RHSC is taking public comment and your voice is needed! You may register to make comments when you arrive at the meeting. Comments will be presented on a first come, first serve basis. No power points, but handouts (should you be so inclined) are allowed. If you interested in commenting, but are unsure of how to best shape your argument, feel free to reach out to Laura Colbert, GHF’s Community Outreach Manager. Even if you aren’t comfortable speaking, please show up and show your support! Details are below.
Location: Two Peachtree Street. 5th floor. Located on the corner of Peachtree Street and Marietta Streets. The Five Points MARTA Station is just south of Two Peachtree.
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Connecting Georgians to Coverage: GHF partners with the Bhutanese Association of Georgia to get people covered
Every Saturday morning, many Bhutanese immigrants gather at their temple in Clarkston for SAT prep, U.S. citizenship, and English classes. Recently, Laura Colbert, Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Community Outreach Manager, joined them to provide information about health care coverage and the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period. With the help of a translator, Laura spoke with approximately twenty community members about the benefits of health care coverage, how to get covered, and where to find affordable medical care if they were not eligible for coverage. She also answered their questions about health care coverage for their children and Medicaid. (In return, Laura learned quite a bit about Bhutanese culture.)
This educational event was the product of a partnership with the Bhutanese Association of Georgia (BAG), which works to integrate Bhutanese refugees into life in Georgia. GHF and BAG have been working together over the past year to educate the Atlanta-based Bhutanese community about health care coverage and to increase health coverage enrollment. In addition to educational events, several fact sheets have been created by GHF and translated into Nepalese to be distributed in the community.
Georgians for a Healthy Future continues to work to increase enrollment among all Georgians, especially in communities that may need extra education or encouragement to enroll.
Medicaid Minute: Who qualifies?
Each state has slightly different eligibility criteria for Medicaid. When we talk about closing the coverage gap– as 28 other states have either through Medicaid expansion or a state-specific 1115 waiver – it’s important that we all know just who is (and isn’t) eligible for Medicaid today in Georgia and who could gain coverage if we close that gap.
Very low income parents. Medicaid is offered to parents who make up to 40% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For a family of four, parents with income up to $9,036 annually or $753 per month can receive health coverage through the Medicaid program.
Pregnant Women. Pregnant women who earn up to 220% FPL. For a family of four, a pregnant woman with income up to $52,488 would be eligible for Medicaid
Most Children. Children are covered at varying income limits based on their age and family size. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), known as PeachCare for Kids in Georgia, is layered on top of the Medicaid program. Together, these programs provide coverage to children in families with incomes up to 247% of the FPL. For a family of four, that’s $58,932 annually.
The low-income elderly. In addition to Medicare, many, but not all, low income elderly adults whose income is less than $25,560 per year qualify for Medicaid.
Low-income women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer.
Aged, Blind, and Disabled. With varying income limits, those who receive Social Security Income, live in a nursing home, or community care center qualify.
Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries. These are the aged, blind or disabled who have hospital insurance and have incomes below 100% FPL. Medicaid will cover some of their Medicare expenses.
Low-income Terminally Ill. Those with an annual income of less than $25,956 and who are expected to live less than six months.
Nearly half a million people enrolled in health insurance through the federal marketplace in the first week of open enrollment! The deadline for January 1st coverage is fast approaching: December 15th. Don’t miss out! If you need in person assistance, please see the below events or contact Nykita at 404-567-5016 or nhowell@healthyfuturega.org.
Upcoming events:
January 19: 15th Annual United Ebony Society MLK Day Celebration and Health Fair (Lawrenceville, GA)
Recurring events:
Cobb County Public Health (Marietta, GA) Every Tuesday, Starting November 18, 2014 and ending February 10, 2015 (with the exception of November 25, 2014)
Clarkston Library, DeKalb County (Clarkston, GA) Every Thursday, Starting November 20, 2014 and ending February 12, 2015
Fayette County Library Presentation (Fayetteville, GA) December 8, 2014; January 12, 2015, and February 2, 2015
Events are subject to change, and new events are added all the time – check back here regularly for updates!
If you receive our Peach Pulse, there’s a good chance you already know that open enrollment for health insurance starts this Saturday, November 15 and goes through February 15. Two important things to remember and share with your friends, family, colleagues, and community members:
Even if you enrolled last year, you should go to healthcare.gov and shop around as your plan and premiums may have changed, or you may qualify for more financial assistance.
Unless you qualify for an exemption, the penalty fee for not obtaining health insurance has risen to $325 or 2% of your income (whichever is higher).
If you have enrolled successfully through the Health Insurance Marketplace or remain uninsured and think you fall into the coverage gap (Not sure what that is? Check out this Kaiser Family Foundation resource that explains the coverage gap!), please consider sharing your story. Highlighting your stories is crucial to showing our lawmakers that the ACA is working and that we need to close the coverage gap so that no Georgian is left uninsured.
Nykita Navigates
With open enrollment starting this Saturday, our Navigator, Nykita, has been very busy! GHF is excited to highlight some of Nykita’s materials, as well as some great work from our partner organizations. The following materials are great to print out at home for your own use or if you’re helping others enroll.
Marketplace Application Checklist – Your check list of what you should bring to your appointment with a Navigator (it’s longer than you think!).
Health Insurance 101 – Not quite sure the difference between an HMO and a PPO? How about co-insurance and co-pay? This brochure will answer your questions.
Enrollment Brochure – Important dates and numbers to remember throughout open enrollment.
Navigator Resource Guide – Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) has launched its web-based Navigator Resource Guide on Private Health Insurance and the Health Insurance Marketplaces. Targeted at Navigators, this is an amazing resource to help answer the tough questions.
Ready to get enrolled? Check out Nykita’s schedule to see what events are happening in your neighborhood. Check back often for updates.
Medicaid Minute
All eyes are on open enrollment, but for more than 400,000 Georgians, there still isn’t a health care option available. Our elected state officials have the power to solve this problem. The health care law was designed to provide a path to health insurance to all Americans, but our state government has to opt in to make that a reality. Governor Deal and the state legislature have so far declined to use federal tax dollars that have already been set aside to provide coverage to those in the gap, but the opportunity to accept this money is still available. We can opt in now by expanding Medicaid eligibility to all low-income Georgians who currently do not qualify. Still need more details? Click here to learn more.
It’s Not Too Late To Give!
As you know, Georgia Gives Day is in full swing! The day isn’t over and as of sending time we are 30% of the way to achieving our goal of $1,000! Your participation and support allows us to continue the work we do: educating the public and our lawmakers, providing valuable resources to partner organizations and leading the charge for closing the coverage gap in Georgia. If you haven’t, please consider a small donation. To donate, click here.
Yesterday, Georgians for a Healthy Future together with the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse unveiled our new initiative “Somebody Finally Asked Me…” at a benefit party held at the home of Iris and Bruce Feinberg. This project aims to prevent and address youth substance use disorders through increased use of an evidence-based public health approach known as SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment).
If you were unable to attend the event and would like to make a donation to help us reach our fundraising goal for this project, click here.
To watch a video about how alcohol and drug addiction impact the lives of youth and why we are committed to preventing addiction before it starts,click here.
Georgians for a Healthy Future awarded Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant
Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF) is excited to announce that we have been awarded a Consumer Voices for Coverage grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest health philanthropy. Georgians for a Healthy Future will work in conjunction with Community Catalyst, who serves as the national program office for the Consumer Voices for Coverage program. As one of 18 state-based consumer health advocacy organizations around the country to receive a grant under the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Consumer Voices for Coverage initiative, Georgians for a Healthy Future will develop and carry out collaborative and best-practice based strategies to maximize health insurance enrollment and retention, increase health insurance literacy, and create a more favorable policy environment for Georgia health care consumers. This project will have a particular emphasis on vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations in Georgia.
“We are honored to be part of the Consumer Voices for Coverage community and excited to deepen our work on behalf of Georgia health care consumers through this grant,” said Cindy Zeldin, Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Executive Director. “The health care policy landscape in Georgia and across the nation is rapidly changing, and it is critically important that there be a strong voice for consumers as these changes are determined and implemented.”
Georgians for a Healthy Future will draw upon our extensive experience and expertise in building and mobilizing coalitions as well as strong relationships with dozens of community organizations with deep reach across the state. These partnerships will be essential for outreach, dissemination of culturally and linguistically appropriate educational materials, and for soliciting feedback from diverse communities about the specific challenges faced regarding health insurance so that themes can be identified and shared with state policymakers and other key stakeholders and decision-makers.
About Georgians for a Healthy Future: Georgians for a Healthy Future’s mission is to build and mobilize a unified voice, vision, and leadership to achieve a healthy future for all Georgians. Since our founding in 2008, Georgians for a Healthy Future has provided substantive health policy information to community leaders and advocates throughout the state, conducted seminars to equip consumers with the tools to become strong advocates, successfully injected the consumer perspective into dozens of health care stories in the media, and engaged with policymakers to spark policy change for a healthier Georgia.
It’s Time to Get Covered
Learn about your options for health care coverage at the LGBT Health Insurance Town Hall
Join Georgia Equality, Georgians for a Healthy Future and The Health Initiative on Thursday, November 13th at 7 pm at the Rush Center. Whether you still need health care coverage or you have coverage and want to re-enroll, you probably have questions about the upcoming open enrollment period. Consumers, just like you, who got enrolled in health coverage last year will share their experiences and advice. Navigators will be on hand to answer your questions about how to get covered or re-enrolled. Bring your coverage questions, your uninsured friends and family, and your health coverage stories. Open enrollment for 2015 coverage begins November 15, 2014 and ends February 15, 2015.
Bonus! We don’t know about you, but talking health care always works up our appetite – stop in at Radial Café before or afterwards to receive either 20% of your meal or order a special dinner for two for $30!
Because we know that many of you have questions about your coverage options and what to look for in a health insurance plan, we will also be live-streaming the town hall meeting. You’ll not only be able to watch the presentations in real time, you’ll also be able to ask your questions of our panelists and experts.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides health insurance for children whose families make too much to allow the children to be covered by Medicaid, but make too little to be able to provide insurance for their children themselves. CHIP covers 7.7 million children nationwide and 220,000 in Georgia. Georgia’s CHIP program is called PeachCare for Kids (aka PeachCare). . PeachCare is administered by the state of Georgia and jointly financed by the state and federal government.
PeachCare provides coverage for primary, preventive, specialty, dental and vision care for enrolled children ages 18 and under. In addition, the insurance covers hospitalization, emergency room visits, prescription medications and mental health care. PeachCare helps ensure the well-being of many Georgia children who may not be covered otherwise.
Future funding for the program is in danger. Even though the program is legislated to exist until 2019, Congress has only approved funding for CHIP until next September. By choosing not to approve federal dollars for CHIP in the 2016-2019 budgets, Congress would leave millions of children without access to health insurance and would shift the financial burden of covering our kids to the Georgia state budget.
Looking for more proof of why we should close the coverage gap? A nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation analysis reported that states that have not expanded Medicaid and closed the coverage gap (like Georgia) will see a greater increase in spending than those that have. In states like Georgia we can expect to see a 6.8 percent increase in tax dollars going to support Medicaid in fiscal year 2015. That compares to a 4.4 percent rise in states that have closed the coverage gap already.
Nykita Navigates!
In the last edition of our Peach Pulse newsletter, we introduced you to Nykita Howell, Georgians for a Healthy Future’s new health insurance navigator. Nykita has hit the ground running in her new position in advance of health insurance open enrollment, which begins November 15!
If you are part of a community-based organization and would like to learn more about the types of health insurance options available to your community members and gain a better understanding of how to enroll in coverage, please feel free to contact Nykita to request a presentation. If you are an individual consumer in need of health insurance enrollment assistance, you can also contact Nykita to set up an appointment.
What does a navigator do, you might ask?
Health insurance navigators help consumers determine their eligibility for health insurance and for advanced premium tax credits through the Health Insurance Marketplace, provide enrollment assistance to consumers by helping them prepare their applications, and conduct outreach and education to raise awareness about the Marketplace. Navigators receive training and are certified at both the state and federal levels. They provide free and unbiased services to consumers.
Georgians for a Healthy Future is part of a consortium of 12 nonprofit organizations led by Seedco that received a federal navigator grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services. That funding supports this important service.
Events in the next two weeks:
Community Church of God and Christ (Atlanta, GA), November 15, 2014 1pm to 4pm
Georgians for a Healthy Future partnered with Seedco at a briefing in Atlanta on October 16 to present and discuss findings from a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of health insurance navigators on consumer experiences during the first open enrollment period. The evaluation was conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Georgia, and its key findings include:
Navigators succeeded in assisting consumers from diverse communities and in reaching those in need of affordable health services
Rates of achieving enrollment or application success with navigators differed by region, by demographics, and by consumer financial status
Navigator interpersonal communications, and especially follow-up, was the biggest factor in consumer satisfaction
As we gear up for the next open enrollment period, which begins on November 15, 2014, the findings from this report can inform the work of enrollment assistance personnel and community-based organizations in Georgia and across the country. Selected recommendations from the report include:
Continue partnering with community agencies that serve diverse populations
Publicize the navigator role and concrete ways to access free in-person assistance
Follow up with consumers after they receive in-person assistance
For a summary document highlighting and describing these and other key findings and recommendations, click here. To read the full study, click here.
Georgians for a Healthy Future Met the Press!
GHF’s Executive Director Cindy Zeldin met last week with the Kaiser Family Foundation’s (KFF) Media Fellows and shared her perspective as a consumer health advocate with the group. The KFF Media Fellows are highly regarded health care journalists from major national and local publications who spent three days in Georgia discussing and learning about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other health policy issues in the state from local experts, advocates, academics, and practitioners. Georgians for a Healthy Future was honored to be a part of their agenda.
The fellows prepared for their visit to Georgia by reading KFF’s new “The Georgia Health Care Landscape.” This document provides a comprehensive overview of Georgia’s population health, the implementation of the ACA in Georgia, and Georgia’s health care infrastructure. It is an excellent primer for those who want to know more about Georgia’s health care landscape or who want to have key Georgia health care stats at your fingertips. Some facts in particular stand out from the issue brief:
As of January 2014, 22% of uninsured Georgians were in the coverage gap, meaning they were ineligible for Medicaid because Georgia has not expanded its program and earned too little to qualify for premium subsidies for private coverage.
87% of Georgians who enrolled in health coverage through the Marketplace received premium subsidies to purchase coverage.
Georgia has many Health Professional Shortage Areas and a high level of unmet need for care. As of August 2014, only 59% of the primary health care need in Georgia was being met. Even worse, only 45% of the need for mental health care services and 28% of the need for dental services were being met.
More than one in five non-elderly people in Georgia is uninsured, and high unemployment rates and poorer than average health care outcomes for many measures suggest a greater need for health coverage among many low-income Georgians.
Georgia Gives day is 26 days away!
We’re hoping for a big turnout for Georgia Gives Day on November 13th for Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF), but there’s something you can do between now and then and it takes almost no time! Take a picture, like the one below, and tell us why you support our work and quality access to health care. Include the hashtags #GAGivesDay and #unselfie and tag us on Facebook or include our twitter handle @healthyfuturega to enter us to win $500 from GA Gives Day! It’s a competition, so go to GA Gives Facebook page and vote for your favorite GHF submission!
Your support and participation doesn’t just support GHF but it supports accessible, quality and affordable health care for all Georgians. Don’t forget to check back with us on November 13th to make a donation and show your support for health equity and for GHF!
GHF Welcomes New Staff: Health Insurance Navigator Nykita Howell
Georgians for a Healthy Future is excited to welcome Nykita Howell, our new Health Insurance Navigator, who joined us this week! In this role, Nykita provides Marketplace enrollment assistance to Georgia health care consumers. Prior to joining Georgians for a Healthy Future, Nykita worked in the fields of clinical and community based research and as a navigator for the first open enrollment period of the national Health Insurance Exchange. Her research efforts have been on studies focused on retention strategies for an NIH-funded cohort based at Umass Medical School, and a church-based diabetes project housed at Mercer University. Her work as a navigator prior to joining Georgians for a Healthy Future included building community partnerships and educating consumers over a seven county area. She holds an MPH from Mercer University School of Medicine and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. Prior to her graduate studies, Nykita received her B.S. in Biology from Clark Atlanta University, in Atlanta, GA. If you or anyone you know needs assistance navigating the health care system, please contact Nykita at nhowell@healthyfuturega.org or 404-567-5016. Remember, open enrollment begins Nov. 15th—just one month away!
Medicaid Minute: 60% Support Closing the Coverage Gap!
A new report on consumers’ experiences and views on health care found that 60% of Georgians disapprove of the state’s decision not to expand Medicaid, which includes 43% who strongly disapprove. Over 90% of Georgians think Medicaid is important – and we agree! It’s time to close the coverage gap and provide a pathway to coverage for all Georgians. Follow @healthyfuturega on Twitter to stay up-to-date about our efforts to #coverga.
Please join Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF) and the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse on October 29 from 6 to 8 PM for our SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) Benefit Party to launch our new public advocacy campaign – Somebody finally asked me! The project seeks to prevent youth substance use disorders through the implementation of universal screening. In addition to launching our SBIRT project, we have been challenged to raise $30,000 in Georgia to help support this work—a big opportunity to leverage the national dollars coming into Georgia through the Hilton Foundation. We hope you will join us and make a gift that is meaningful to you as we work together towards this goal. To learn more about this project click here. To RSVP now, click here.
GHF Executive Director is honored by the League of Women Voters
Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Executive Director Cindy Zeldin was honored last week by the League of Women Voters with an Empowerment Award at their annual lunch. GHF is so proud of Cindy’s dedication to health advocacy throughout the last five years!
When consumers enroll in a health insurance plan, they gain access to a network of medical providers. Insurance companies contract with a range of providers, including both primary care and specialty physicians, to deliver health care services included within the plan’s benefit package. This network of providers must be adequate to ensure that consumers enrolled in the plan have reasonable access to all covered benefits. This is what is meant by network adequacy. More specifically, to be considered adequate, a network must provide adequate numbers, types, and geographic distribution of providers; must ensure that access to care is timely; and must include essential community providers that serve predominantly low-income, medically underserved individuals. Additionally, accurate information about providers must be made available to consumers.
Network adequacy has become a hot topic over the past several months because many consumers who enrolled in new health plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace found that their plan came with a narrow network of providers. Provider directories weren’t always accurate or up-to-date, and consumers expressed a fair amount of confusion over which providers were in their plan’s network.
At the same time, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which develops model laws and rules that states often adopt, has been working to update its network adequacy model law. Stakeholders ranging from insurers to medical providers to patient and consumer advocates are weighing in on this process, making network adequacy a hot topic in the policy arena too. Georgians for a Healthy Future has been monitoring this process through the participation of our executive director as one of the consumer representatives to the NAIC. Earlier this summer, the consumer representatives submitted comments to the NAIC focusing on developing a stronger standard and better oversight of network adequacy, an end to “balance billing” by out-of-network providers in in-network facilities, and greater transparency of provider networks.
Georgians for a Healthy Future will continue to monitor this process and will advocate at all levels, in conjunction with state and national partners, to ensure consumers have meaningful access to care.
If you are an individual consumer enrolled in a commercial health plan and the provider directory you were given was incorrect or if you have concerns about your ability to access covered services under your plan, please contact the Georgia Office of Insurance & Fire Safety, Consumer Services Division by calling (800) 656-2298 or use the Consumer Complaint Portal at www.oci.ga.gov/ConsumerService. Please also consider sharing your story with Georgians for a Healthy Future so we can get a better picture of what is happening in our state.
For more information on network adequacy, please see the following reports and resources:
The ACA and people living with HIV/AIDS: what you need to know
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) makes health insurance more affordable, more accessible, more understandable, and more complete for all Georgians. Health care and health insurance are especially important to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) so that they can stay healthy and well. PLWHA often have very specific needs and questions regarding their health coverage and care options. To answer them, Georgians for a Healthy Future and Georgia Equality have created a fact sheet that breaks down the biggest concerns and decisions for PLWHA. The fact sheet details new rights and protections under the ACA, walks through important questions to ask prior to choosing a health plan, and provides contacts for further assistance.
This fact sheet was made to be shared! You can view and download this new fact sheet on the GHF website. If you would like hard copies to distribute to your members, clients, or community partners, please contact Laura Colbert, GHF’s Community Outreach Manager at lcobert@healthyfuturega.org.
Georgia Gives Day
Georgians for a Healthy Future works hard every day to bring about our vision of a day when all Georgians have access to the health care services they need to lead productive lives and contribute to the health of their communities. Whether we’re enrolling people in health insurance, advocating on behalf of health care consumers at the state capitol, working to address substance use among young adults, or convening a coalition to expand Medicaid, we are focused on you and your health.
November 14th is Georgia Gives Day. This is a day for Georgians across the state to express their support for the non-profit organizations that enrich our lives. We hope that you will put November 14th on your calendar and take a few minutes out of your day to support Georgians for a Healthy Future by making a small contribution. Look for alerts leading up to the day and please follow us on Facebook and Twitter as we celebrate and work toward our vision of a healthy Georgia.
Stories that Cause Change: How you can make a difference!
The public discussion around the Affordable Care Act is often about its politics. What the pundits miss is that each person’s experiences-whether it is the elation, relief, and sense of security that come with enrolling in health insurance for the first time or the frustration that comes from finding out you fall into the coverage gap–is important. Whatever your story, we want you to share it with us!
Volunteer! Throughout open enrollment we will be talking to consumers throughout the state. You can help us in this important effort by attending an event in your neighborhood and talking to consumers. We will prepare you with supplies and materials, a how-to guide, and more. If you would like to help out, please email our outreach manager, Laura Colbert.
Share your story and encourage others to do the same. If you or someone you know has successfully enrolled in a health insurance plan through the marketplace, tell us about it. If you fall in the coverage gap, let us know. If you are able to access care that you couldn’t afford before, we want to hear about it. Tell us your story by contacting our communications coordinator, Anna Cullen.
Together we can make a change.
Medicaid Minute: Uncompensated Care Cost
Last week, HHS released a report highlighting one way Georgia can help our hospitals and reduce uncompensated care costs: closing the coverage gap by expanding Medicaid. In states that have expanded, uninsured/self-pay admissions as well as uninsured/self-pay emergency visits have fallen. Those same states have seen hospital admissions for patients with Medicaid increase. In short, they have more paying customers. And Georgia is getting left out. The report shows a $5.7 billion savings to hospitals in uncompensated care because of the Affordable Care Act. $4.2 billion (74%) of those savings will be to states that have expanded. Just one more reason why closing the coverage gap is the best option for Georgia’s economy and Georgia’s people!
Covering Kids: Health Insurance for the Whole Family
New from GHF!
All kids need reliable access to quality health care. Children need to see the doctor even when they are healthy: shots for school, well-child visits, and dental care are all important for kids to grow up healthy and strong. Their parents need coverage too to stay on track with regular screenings and preventive care, to access the health care system if they become sick, and to experience the financial peace of mind that comes with being covered.
Thanks to new health insurance options available through the Marketplace, the uninsured rate among parents is dropping. Still, too many of Georgia’s low-income parents fall into what has become known as the “coverage gap,” meaning they don’t earn enough to qualify for subsidized private insurance and they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid because Georgia has so far declined to join the 27 states (and counting!) who have expanded Medicaid.
In an effort to provide accurate information to parents about the coverage options for themselves and their children, GHF has created a set of fact sheets about health insurance coverage for kids and parents in Georgia. These fact sheets are intended to be a resource for individual consumers and for organizations who represent or provide services for Georgia families.
Affordable Health Care for Your Children and For Uninsured Parents help parents understand the coverage options for themselves and their children. If you work with low- to moderate-income families through a charity care clinic, at a school or church, or in a community-based organization, you may want to provide these resources to the families you serve.
Covering Kids paints a picture for policy makers and the media who want to better understand children’s health care coverage in Georgia. If you work with policy makers or want to talk to your legislators about health care coverage for kids, this fact sheet will be a helpful resource.
A fourth fact sheet serves as a reference for those who need to know the income limits for the Medicaid and PeachCare programs.
You can view and download these new fact sheets on the GHF website. If you would like hard copies to distribute to your members, clients, or community partners, please contact Laura Colbert, GHF’s Community Outreach Manager.
Connecting Georgians to Converage: GHF’s Navigator Program Will Again Assist During Open Enrollment!
Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded health insurance navigator grants to 90 organizations in states with federally facilitated or partnership marketplaces. Health insurance navigators help consumers understand and compare health insurance options, enroll in coverage, determine eligibility for tax credits, and utilize new coverage once enrolled. Georgians for a Healthy Future is excited to announce that, for the second year in a row, we are part of a consortium of 12 nonprofit organizations, led by the national nonprofit organization Seedco, which received one of two grants for Georgia!
With the next open enrollment period just 58 days away, we are already getting ready. In the coming weeks Georgians for a Healthy Future will bring on a full-time health insurance navigator who will work closely with consortium partners to provide outreach, education, and enrollment assistance to Georgia individuals and families. More than 300,000 Georgia consumers signed up for coverage during last year’s open enrollment period, but hundreds of thousands more who are eligible for affordable coverage remain uninsured. Reaching these uninsured Georgians will require targeted outreach strategies and new partnerships with local community-based organizations throughout the state. Additionally, consumers who enrolled during the last open enrollment period will need assistance navigating re-enrollment and may have questions about how to understand and use their new coverage. Health insurance navigators played a critical role during the first open enrollment period and are poised to assist consumers again this fall, when the second open enrollment period begins.
Georgians for a Healthy Future is honored to participate in these efforts.
Click here to see a full list of organizations that have received funding through Seedco.
Stories That Cause Change: How You Can Make a Difference!
Did you recently sign up for health insurance for the first time? Were you locked out of the market before because you had a pre-existing condition? Was insurance too pricey for you in the past and did you finally find an affordable plan that meets your needs? Or maybe you tried to enroll in coverage and found out that you fell in the “coverage gap” and can’t gain eligibility for Medicaid until Georgia policymakers move forward with Medicaid expansion? Or perhaps you enrolled in coverage but have had difficulty accessing an in-network provider nearby? Whatever your health care story is, we want you to share it with us!
The public discussion around the Affordable Care Act is often about its politics. What the pundits miss is that each person’s experiences-whether it is the elation, relief, and sense of security that come with enrolling in health insurance for the first time or the frustration that comes from finding out you fall into the coverage gap–is important. Georgians for a Healthy Future believes that telling those stories is a powerful tool that can help bring about a better policy environment for health care consumers in Georgia. Over the next several months, GHF, along with other organizations within the Cover Georgia coalition, will collect these stories and share them across the state.
To do this, we need your help in two important ways:
Volunteer! Throughout open enrollment we will be talking to consumers throughout the state. You can help us in this important effort by attending an event in your neighborhood and talking to consumers. We will prepare you with supplies and materials, a how-to guide, and more. If you would like to help out, please email our outreach manager, Laura Colbert.
Share your story and encourage others to do the same. If you or someone you know has successfully enrolled in a health insurance plan through the marketplace, tell us about it. If you fall in the coverage gap, let us know. If you are able to access care that you couldn’t afford before, we want to hear about it. Tell us your story by contacting our communications coordinator, Anna Cullen.
Together we can make a change.
Medicaid Minute
Every day that Georgia does not close the coverage gap and expand Medicaid, federal dollars are lost. To show just how much we are really losing, Pro Georgia has created a Georgia Medicaid Counter to track the dollars lost in real time. Below is the code it embed it on your website. Please use and share!
What health care rights and protections do legally married same-sex couples have in states like Georgia that don’t currently recognize same-sex marriage?
Can health insurance navigators help consumers find LGBT-friendly plans? (Hint – yes they can!)
How can a consumer file a complaint if they experience discrimination?
What new health care rights and protections do transgender individuals have?
The Affordable Care Act makes health insurance and health care more understandable, more accessible, more affordable, and more comprehensive for Georgians, no matter their gender identity. Georgians for a Healthy Future and Georgia Equality have teamed up to develop a new set of LGBT specific fact sheets to answer some of these challenging questions that LGBT individuals and families face as they seek out, enroll in, and use their health coverage.
These fact sheets are intended to be a resource for individual consumers and for organizations who represent or provide services tailored to LGBT Georgians. You can view and download these new fact sheets here. If you would like hard copies to distribute to your members, clients, or community partners, please contact Laura Colbert, Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Community Outreach Manager.
Connecting Georgians to Coverage: One Day Left – Resolve Citizenship Inconsistencies Now!
There is one day left for the 20,900 Georgians who received letters from the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) asking for citizenship verification. Georgians who haven’t responded by September 5th will see their health care coverage end on September 30th. Consumers whose coverage is canceled may be required to pay back some or all of the tax credits they received.
If you or someone you know has received this letter, please visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov and type in your zip code. This will take you a list of organizations with health care Navigators – licensed professionals who can walk you through what needs to be done and how to get it done by the deadline. Click here assistance.
For up to the second information on this time sensitive issue, follow the twitter hashtags #BySept5 #StayCovered #Asegurate
SBIRT, GCSA, and NRM: Acronyms You Should Know
More than 300,000 Georgians have enrolled in health insurance since last October, when new coverage opportunities became available through the Health Insurance Marketplace. These big coverage gains present an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of prevention, both among consumers and policymakers. We are already seeing the lifesaving impact that services like cancer screening, blood pressure checks, and mammograms are having. One screening tool not broadly talked about is Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). SBIRT is a cost-effective way to identify individuals who are at risk of developing a substance use disorder and can often prevent the development of addiction or refer those in need to treatment. Studies have shown every $1 invested in SBIRT yields $4 in savings. This important set of preventive tools should be available to all Georgians, particularly to our state’s youth.
This important set of preventive tools should be available to all Georgians, particularly to our state’s youth. The rise in heroin use among Georgia adolescents has gained widespread attention in recent months, but the problems goes beyond just heroin. By the time a student reaches ninth grade, 1 in 5 will display signs of alcohol use, a rate which rises to 2 in 5 by the twelfth grade. Approximately 20 percent of twelfth-graders are also engaging in drug use. We know that drug and alcohol use that starts in adolescence all too often becomes a lifelong habit. In fact, 90% of adults with a substance use disorder began using alcohol and/or drugs before the age of 18 and half under the age of 15. With an increased awareness and use of SBIRT, we can work together to prevent drug and substance use disorders among Georgia’s youth and help them lead healthier and more productive lives. To raise awareness about substance use disorders among Georgia’s youth as a public health challenge that can be addressed through prevention, Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (GCSA) have teamed up to raise awareness of and advocate for widespread use of SBIRT.
The GHF/GCSA campaign starts now, taking advantage of the spotlight already on the issue during the month of September: National Recovery Month. Throughout the month, GCSA will participate in more than 20 events statewide to rally support, increase awareness, and connect people to the care they need. See if there’s an event in your area! The theme for this year’s Recovery Month is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out,” and we hope you will follow suit by speaking up and reaching out to those around you. This is a crucial health issue that touches so many lives – join GHF and GCSA’s commitment to SBIRT and dedicated youth screening and early intervention efforts. Stay posted for more information about SBIRT and recovery throughout the month!
For more information about teen substance abuse, please visit http://www.drugfree.org/. If a teen if your life is struggling with addiction, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline number (800) 662-HELP or (800) 662-4357 or the Georgia Crisis and Access Line 0 1.800.715.4225 or www.mygcal.com .
Washington Update: Funding for PeachCare to Expire in 2015!
THE GOOD NEWS: Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, in October of 2015 the federal match rate for PeachCare for Kids increases from 75 percent to 93 percent. This means that Georgia’s financial responsibility for PeachCare for Kids will decline from 25 percent of program costs to 7 percent. This is great news for Georgia’s children!
THE BAD NEWS: Funding for PeachCare for Kids is only guaranteed through September 2015. That’s right, this crucial program that has been so successful in keeping Georgia’s children healthy is precariously close to running out of money.
PeachCare for Kids, Georgia’s Children Health Care Insurance Program (CHIP), provides more than 220,000 children with access to primary, preventive, specialist, dental care and vision care as well as hospitalization, emergency room services, prescription medications and mental health care services. PeachCare for Kids serves children in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but still cannot afford private health insurance. The program, which started in 1999, leverages federal dollars to support the state’s commitment to access to care for our state’s children. PeachCare for Kids has been very successful, with Georgia ranking 8th in the nation for the number of enrolled children.
How can you help? Let your Congressman know that CHIP/PeachCare works and we want it to keep working! Click here to find your federal Representative and Senator and their contact information. For up to date information on this developing issue, follow GHF on Facebook and Twitter.
Medicaid Minute
For Georgians who fall into the coverage gap,
living without health insurance and access to comprehensive health care services is a part of everyday life. To raise awareness about the importance of this issue, Mercy Care took to the streets, bringing it into the everyday lives of Atlanta workers on their lunch break with a flash mob! We may not like that Georgia hasn’t expanded Medicaid, but we sure were happy to see this display of support in Woodruff Park! Click the picture to check it out!
Georgians for a Healthy Future is honored to call Mercy Care a partner in the campaign to close the coverage gap in Georgia. To learn more about the Cover Georgia campaign to expand Medicaid in Georgia, visit www.coverga.org. If your organization would like to join the coalition, please contact Laura Colbert, Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Community Outreach Manager.
November 2023
GHF has new and updated resources to help you manage during the COVID-19 pandemic
Georgians in the Driver’s Seat launches rider satisfaction survey
Make your voice heard through the Georgia Health Action Network
Aging with dignity: Georgia seniors need Medicaid
What’s next with waivers
Bringing together housing providers & health advocates
State begins search for health care waiver consultants
GHF releases three new advocacy videos
A recap of the 2019 Georgia legislative session
Got plans this Saturday?
Before you go to the polls!
What health care voters need to know
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GHF’s Executive Director will participate in team from Georgia
GHF goes to Athens!
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Dr. Jean O’Connor joins GHF’s board of directors
Coverage saves lives
Georgians can’t afford to wait
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Get to know the Georgia Apex Program
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GHF adopts new strategic plan ahead of 10-year anniversary
Two moms, two Medicaid stories
Learn, engage, participate
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For Travis, Medicaid means employment and giving back to the community
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Please join us for our 7th annual Health Care Unscrambled policy breakfast. We are excited to host former CMS Deputy Administrator and nationally renowned Medicaid expert, Cindy Mann. As our keynote speaker, she’ll walk through what advocates need to know about how the proposed changes to health care programs like Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Marketplace coverage being discussed in Washington could impact Georgians, their families, and community. As always, our featured speaker will follow a bipartisan panel of legislators at the forefront of Georgia’s health care debates. Tickets are $50 (and could make a great holiday present!). We hope to see you there!
Health Beyond Health Care
GHF raised $4,380 on Georgia Gives Day! 
Did you know that you can support GHF throughout the holiday season? Amazon Smile allows you to select a nonprofit to support. If you choose GHF, every time you shop through Amazon Smile a portion of your purchase goes to support our mission. 
Sarah Dobra – Director of Development & Operations
GHF and Georgia Watch host policy forum on network adequacy, surprise out-of-network billing, and provider directory accuracy.
Ensuring Access to Care: Setting and Enforcing Network Adequacy Standards 
Ensuring Access to Care: Improving Provider Directory Accuracy and Usability
GHF and partners take to the Gold Dome! 
Aliyya Haque
Sylvia Caley
GHF helped over 100 people get covered
On January 19th, GHF’s Outreach and Engagement Manager, Whitney Griggs, was in Savannah talking to people who fell into the coverage gap. One of them was Henry. Henry had been working as a super heavy hauler, but had to stop working in 2008 to take care of his diabetes and other health issues. He intended to return to driving once his health problems were under control, but he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and could not return to driving or working. He is currently managing several severe health issues, including diabetes, blood clots in his lungs and legs, thryroid cancer, and COPD. Although, he is able to get some of his care from St. Mary’s, he has many unpaid medical bills. He must rely on his elderly mother to help pay some of his costs, which he says is difficult because she lives on a fixed income. Stories like Henry’s highlight the need for Georgia to close its coverage gap to make sure all Georgians are able to get the care they need. If you or someone you know has a story of being uninsured that you would like to share, please contact 
Health Care Unscrambled 2016
Webinar: A Look Ahead at Health Care Policy in the 2016 Georgia Legislative Session
In December, the ACA Implementation Research Network released its Georgia state report at a policy forum held at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Executive Director Cindy Zeldin participated in a discussion with advocates, policymakers, and stakeholders to reflect on the report’s findings. The conversation ranged from health insurance enrollment best practices to health system reform to what it will take to close the coverage gap in Georgia.
By the 9th week of Open Enrollment 3, more than 8.6 million consumers nationally and 517,000 in Georgia have enrolled in health care coverage through the Marketplace. In addition to GHF’s collaborative work with the enrollment assistance community, we also help individuals and families enroll in health insurance! We have assisted more than 70 individuals and families with enrollment and post enrollment related services, and enrolled 60 consumers into Marketplace plans during OE3. GHF continues to provide enrollment and post enrollment assistance to consumers through its main office in downtown Atlanta, its weekly enrollment site at Switzer public library in Marietta, and through other events in partnership with community organizations, coalition partners, and other non-profit organizations.
Victoria Congleton joins the GHF team in our efforts to improve health policies in Georgia. Victoria will work on various tasks during her time with GHF to learn about all of the components of health advocacy in Georgia. Victoria hopes to learn more about the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, health policies, the legislative session, and other health topics. She is currently finishing up her Bachelors in Community Health and French at SUNY Potsdam.
GHF has joined the LinkedIn community and we’d love to connect with you! 
Several health-related study committees met during the summer and fall months, and most of them are wrapping up their work. The Consumer and Provider Protection Act Study Committee held its final open meeting in November with a focus on network adequacy and provider directories. Claire McAndrew from Families USA, a national consumer health advocacy organization, and Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Health Policy Analyst Meredith Gonsahn delivered testimony on the importance of setting network adequacy standards and ensuring provider directory accuracy and usability. Look out for a final report from the committee in December!
GHF’s ED Cindy Zeldin took to the pages of theAtlanta Journal-Constitution last month to make the case for coverage:
Major life events, such as getting married, changing jobs, or having a baby, qualify for you a special 60 day enrollment period. So after the honeymoon is over, it’s time to #GetCovered!
