NEWS & MEDIA
Georgians for a Healthy Future is frequently cited in news articles about health care issues, ensuring the consumer perspective is heard. Read news stories featuring Georgians for a Healthy Future’s perspective below.
2020
“If CMS were to approve this waiver in its current form, I would expect lawsuits on behalf of Georgia consumers and families,” said Laura Colbert, executive director at Georgians for a Healthy Future, a consumer group based in Atlanta that has called the proposal “terrible for Georgians.” “The proposal would encourage enrollment in substandard plans and likely cause many Georgians to lose coverage. People with preexisting health conditions would be put at risk.”
“We really think it’s time to put this to bed and protect Georgians,” said Laura Colbert, executive director of the nonprofit Georgians for a Healthy Future.
“We really think it’s time to put this to bed and protect Georgians,” said Laura Colbert, the executive director of the nonprofit Georgians for a Healthy Future.
“We really think it’s time to put this to bed and protect Georgians,” said Laura Colbert, the executive director of the nonprofit Georgians for a Healthy Future.
Laura Colbert of the consumer group Georgians for a Healthy Future, when asked to comment on the contents of the letter, said Thursday that the state’s private insurance waiver “has a number of unanswered questions, from a consumer perspective.’’
She said, “It’s reassuring that federal agencies want answers to those questions.’’
Laura Colbert of the consumer group Georgians for a Healthy Future said the CMS move “should worry all Georgians.’’
“Block grants are simply camouflaged cuts to the Medicaid program,” Colbert said. “If Georgia were to adopt this approach, fewer dollars would be available to provide care to Georgians. The so-called limits of these spending cuts to low-income Georgia adults and parents do not protect other groups, like children, people with disabilities and pregnant women. The state would have less money to ensure all Medicaid members have the care and coverage they need.’’
Established in 1992, the Consumer Liaison Program “promotes consumer interaction with the NAIC’s members, the insurance industry and interested parties through the individuals’ dedication and commitment to serving the public interest,” an NAIC press release said.
“Our consumer liaison representatives are experts in their fields and the NAIC relies on them to provide our regulators with direction and support,” said Ray Farmer, NAIC president and director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance. “The work that consumer liaisons do alongside our members supports our organization in continuing to protect consumers.”
Laura Colbert, executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future, said people living in rural areas are more likely to have low levels of health literacy, compared to urban or suburban areas.
“When people have low health literacy skills, they may have problems reading and understanding even basic health information, like a pamphlet about a health condition,” Colbert said in a statement. “The challenges of health literacy among rural Georgians may make it difficult for many to understand their doctor’s instructions, manage their own health conditions, or sign up for insurance coverage.
A federal-state negotiation period over the plan will follow the comment period, said Laura Colbert, executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future, a consumer health advocacy nonprofit. Colbert said that as other states navigated the waiver process, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have asked for changes based on public comments.
“There is some chance that the waiver itself gets some changes included,” Colbert said. “And then if it were to get approval, that legal record is really important for any litigation.”
Laura Colbert, executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future, said the limited changes made to the proposal is tantamount to the state dismissing the input from those who argued for full expansion and against rules limiting coverage.
“We encourage Georgians to participate in the federal comment period to come so that federal officials are able to take that feedback into account as they consider approval of this proposal,” Colbert said.