Peach Pulse Archives – Georgians for a Healthy Future

Peach Pulse | Calling Georgia public health workers, GHF’s new board & team members, Medicaid unwinding help & more!

April 2023

LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS: WE NEED YOU!

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. If you would like to take part in Community Conversations, fill out this interest form. Please reach out to Knetta Adkins, Organizing Manager at kadkins@healthyfuturega.org or 404-400-2715 with any questions.

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Peach Pulse | Upcoming celebrations: Nat’l Public Health Week + Medicaid Awareness Month, wrapping up leg. session & more!

March 2023

COVER GEORGIA HOSTS 2023 ADVOCACY DAY

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.

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Peach Pulse | Cover GA advocacy day is Monday, public health, legislative session so far, & more!

February 2023

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!

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Peach Pulse | New from Glenwood & Cuthbert, stay in charge of your Medicaid, HCU TY, & more!

January 2023

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.

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Peach Pulse | HCU 2023, get covered, new illustrated resource, fall giving with GHF, & more!

December 2022

ONLY A FEW WEEKS LEFT!

Get your tickets for HCU 2023!

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!

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

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Peach Pulse | Thank you!, HCU 2023, get covered by Dec. 15, & more!

November 2022

JOIN GHF FOR HEALTHCARE UNSCRAMBLED 2023!

Thank you for your support on Giving Tuesday!

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!

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Peach Pulse | HCU 2023, get covered, new illustrated resource, fall giving with GHF, & more!

October 2022

JOIN GHF FOR HEALTHCARE UNSCRAMBLED 2023!

Health Care Unscrambled is back in person on January 10th!

Please join Georgians for a Healthy Future for our 13th 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, 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.

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

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Peach Pulse | Suicide Prevention, new public health training, housing survey, & more!

SEPTEMBER 2022

EVENTS AT GHF: TODAY & THANK YOU!

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.

Tune in today, September 28th, at 1pm to GHF’s Facebook page!

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!

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Peach Pulse | Breastfeeding, Family & Friends Reunion, 10 years without Medicaid expansion, & more!

August 2022

JOIN GHF VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON!

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.

Tune in tomorrow, August 31st, at 12pm to GHF’s Facebook page!

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.

Attendance is free, and your donations are appreciated. Thank you to our generous sponsors!

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Peach Pulse | Medicaid b-day, GHF’s new strategic plan, Friends & Family Reunion, Pride Month conversation, & more!

July
2022

CELEBRATE MEDICAID’S 57TH ANNIVERSARY!!

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!

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