ATLANTA –July 1st marked the first anniversary of the Pathways to Coverage program. Advocates are urging state leaders to acknowledge that the current design has not met the critical needs of Georgia’s uninsured population.

Initially expected to enroll between 31,000 to 100,000 Georgians in its debut year, the program has 4,323 individuals actively enrolled as of mid-June 2024. This shortfall highlights the gap between the program’s objectives and its actual impact on the community’s health care access.

Data indicate that the complexities of the program’s administration, along with the backlog generated by the Medicaid unwinding, may have contributed to its underperformance–with about 38% of applicants still awaiting processing. The cumbersome enrollment and monthly reporting process and the substantial state and federal taxpayer funds directed towards managing the online enrollment and eligibility portal–almost $12 million from July 2023 to March 2024 alone–reflect a misalignment of priorities and resources.
Furthermore, Pathways to Coverage’s work and other qualifying activity requirements may have limited the program’s reach and effectiveness. Only 20% of the applications processed have resulted in coverage, and about 21% of denials are due to stringent qualifying hours and activity requirements.

ATLANTA — Georgians for a Healthy Future released a statement in response to Friday’s U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision on Braidwood v. Becerra. The court’s decision largely preserved the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement for health insurers in Georgia and nationwide to provide coverage of certain preventive services like colorectal and breast cancer screenings, vaccinations, and mental health screenings at no cost. For now, this decision affirms that over 150 million Americans, including 4.6 million Georgians, will continue to have access to essential preventive care without out-of-pocket costs.

“We are pleased with the Court’s decision to uphold the ACA’s protections of no-cost, life saving preventive services. This ruling is a relief for Georgians who rely on these benefits to understand their risks for serious and chronic conditions, and to prevent or identify health issues early when they’re treatable and manageable,” said Georgians for a Healthy Future Executive Director Laura Colbert. “While these services appear to be safe for now, the court’s decision has left a door open for future challenges. In light of this uncertainty, GHF will continue to monitor this issue and remains committed to advocating for policies that ensure all Georgians have access to the preventive care they need to lead healthy lives.”

While this decision preserves critical preventive care access for now, it paves the way for future legal challenges that could threaten these protections.

ATLANTA (Dec. 14, 2023) – The Carter Center, in partnership with Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Parity Collaborative, hosted roundtables on mental health insurance coverage Dec. 11-12 at the Gateway Community Service Board Crisis Center in Savannah and Albany State University in Albany. The roundtables aimed to gather input from diverse stakeholders to better understand the most effective ways to raise awareness about their rights to mental health care in Georgia.

Statement From GHF’s Executive Director Laura Colbert:  

“Georgians heard promises from state leaders about a new program that would expand access to care, cover between 31,000-345,000 uninsured adults, and lower costs for families. Pathways to Coverage is falling well short of these commitments to uninsured Georgians. Medicaid expansion would be a more effective way to meaningfully cover state residents and connect them to care, as South Dakota’s early success demonstrates.”

ATLANTA – On Tuesday, September 12, Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF) celebrated its 15th anniversary, and thus 15 years of reimagining and reshaping Georgia’s health laws.

“Georgians for a Healthy Future has always been driven by a simple yet powerful vision, a healthier and more equitable future for all Georgians,” said Deanna Burke, Chair of Georgians for a Healthy Future. “Over the past 15 years, we have worked to tirelessly transform this vision into a reality, advocating for better health care access, improved outcomes and a brighter future for our communities.”