Peach Pulse Archives

• Douglas County Sintenal | August 22, 2024 | Kemp: Georgia programs give 700K insurance at 138% or less than poverty level
• Capitol Beat | August 23, 2024 | State launches ad campaign for Georgia Pathways Medicaid program
• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | September 06, 2024 | The first year of Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement is mired in red tape
• Saporta Report | September 23, 2024 | Preventive care is proactive care: Supporting youth mental health in Georgia

GHF is thrilled to announce a new job opening for a Georgia Access Navigator to serve the southeastern region of our state! Thanks to funding from Georgia Access (the state’s new health insurance marketplace) and in partnership with the Georgia Alliance of YMCAs, we’re expanding our efforts to help Georgians access the health insurance they need.

As a Georgia Access Navigator, you will be on the front lines, guiding individuals and families through the process of shopping and enrolling in health insurance through the Georgia Access marketplace. You’ll play a crucial role in educating communities about the importance of health insurance, the coverage options available, and the financial assistance that can make these plans more affordable.

We’re looking for someone entrepreneurial, collaborative, and community-minded. In this role, you’ll conduct outreach, answer questions, and provide fair and accurate information to help people make informed decisions about their health coverage. If you’re passionate about helping others and can work independently with little oversight, we encourage you to apply.

Join GHF in making a difference in Georgia! Learn more and apply today to become part of a dynamic team committed to improving the health of all Georgians.

First, we’ve just published a fact sheet about Georgia’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). This program has helped build or renovate nearly 95,000 affordable rental units across the state since 2021. The LIHTC encourages developers to create housing for families and individuals with low incomes and is especially effective at increasing housing in rural areas. The fact sheet also highlights the economic benefits of the program, details why the LIHTC is an important policy tool for healthy housing for people with disabilities and explores ways to strengthen it.

We have also created a summary version of our 2023 research about the housing needs of people with developmental disabilities, “Realizing the Promise of Olmstead.” This shorter version is more accessible and easier to read for advocates, people with disabilities of all kinds, and state leaders.  It’s a bite-sized look at the housing needs of Georgians with developmental disabilities, looking at how housing affects their health, and the easiest public policy steps that Georgia leaders can take to improve healthy housing for Georgians with disabilities.

Visit our website to review and share this new, shorter version, or to revisit last year’s full-length report.

• Inside Health Policy | August 16, 2024 | Consumer Reps Urge Insurance Commissioners To Keep Pressure On Congress For APTCs

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As the new school year gets started, be sure your student has a smooth transition back to the classroom by checking your children’s Medicaid coverage. Since last spring, Georgia and other states have been assessing which Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids members are still eligible for their coverage.

Thousands of Georgia children have been disenrolled from Medicaid as a result. That’s why it’s important for parents to verify their kids’ coverage status now. Many Georgia kids have lost coverage because the state couldn’t get in touch with their families or there were other paperwork issues, not because they are ineligible for coverage.

Before your children head back to school, take a moment to confirm that their Medicaid coverage is active. If you discover any issues or need assistance, free, local help is available (starting here at GHF). Ensuring your children have continuous health coverage means your family can stay focused on their homework, field trips, and everything in between without costly or unnecessary disruptions.

If you, your child, or someone you know is covered by Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids (or were covered at any time since March 2020), now is the time to check your status.

1. Visit Gateway.ga.gov and log-in to your account
2. Update your contact information.
3. Check to see if you or your child’s coverage is still active.
   1. If your child’s coverage is active, great!
   2. If your child’s coverage stopped in the last three months, you may still be able to submit paperwork to belatedly renew it. You may have a Gateway message that details what actions you need to complete.
   3. If your child’s coverage stopped more than three months ago, they may still be eligible for Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids. If you or your child meet the eligibility criteria (check here!), submit a new application for coverage.

If you or someone you know needs assistance navigating a Medicaid renewal or application, support is available here.

Did you know that a new Commission of health leaders has begun meeting to explore how to improve access to care for low-income and uninsured Georgians?

Georgia’s new Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission held its first meeting last Thursday, July 25th. Established this spring by state leaders, the Commission will spend the next 18 months advising decision-makers on health care access and quality for low-income and uninsured Georgians The Cover Georgia Coalition has released a recap blog of the meeting here.

A key issue that GHF and the Cover Georgia coalition hope the Commission will address is Georgia’s health coverage gap. Closing this gap would allow nearly half a million Georgians to gain health coverage, so they can affordably go to the doctor and get medications when they’re sick.

During the Commission’s virtual kick-off meeting, members introduced themselves and outlined their areas of expertise and interest. They heard from Lynnette Rhodes, Chief Health Policy Officer at the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) about the state’s Medicaid program, enrollment trends, and the impacts of major new policies like the Medicaid unwinding, the Pathways to Coverage program, and more.

John King, Commissioner of the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire, also presented. He focused on reinsurance and the upcoming launch of Georgia Access, the new state-based exchange set to go live on November 1st. This new platform will transition Georgia off healthcare.gov and shift management of the state marketplace to the Georgia Department of Insurance. (Check out GHF’s blog here for more information.)

The Commission members discussed their own priorities and interests within the scope of the group’s charges. Chair of the Commission, Caylee Noggle, mentioned that an upcoming meeting will specifically address Georgia’s uninsured population.

You can re-watch the Commission’s meeting here, or read Cover Georgia’s full meeting summary here. If you missed it earlier, check out Cover Georgia’s statement about the Commission appointments here.

Stay tuned for more updates about the Commission’s work and opportunities for you to get involved!

One program challenge is that eligible Georgians have to jump over tedious paperwork hurdles to enroll and keep their coverage.

The slow results from Pathways’s first program year present Georgia leaders with an opportunity to learn and consider more effective options. The Cover Georgia coalition will continue to urge Governor Kemp and legislators to consider fully closing Georgia’s coverage gap.

For more information on the Pathways to Coverage program’s first year and recommendations for improvement, read the full press release from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute and Georgians for a Healthy Future.

“Family caregivers are unwavering pillars in our health care and public health systems, enabling millions of people to live more independently, with dignity and self-determination,” said Georgians for a Healthy Future Executive Director Laura Colbert. “They are often tasked with navigating a maze of responsibilities, from performing complex medical tasks to providing daily living assistance. The fact that bridging these gaps in care is often unfamiliar territory does not prevent them from going above and beyond.”

Supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), this project is just one part of a national effort to address the unmet needs of caregivers across the country and help implement policy changes recommended by the RAISE National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.

Collaborating with organizations across eight other states, GHF aims to bring greater recognition, support, and inclusion of caregivers into diverse communities across the country – advancing policy and practice level changes that increase awareness of caregiving issues and increase engagement of caregivers in decision-making.

This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $5,333,332 with 75 percentage funded by ACL/HHS and $1,333,332 amount and 25 percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

• Now Habersham | July 12, 2024 | State Medicaid expansion plan falls short, says policy organization
• Axios Atlanta | June 1, 2024: Experts urge Georgia to reform health insurance system