Peach Pulse Archives – Georgians for a Healthy Future

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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Peach Pulse | Tomorrow’s pride month convo., Cover Georgia survey, Save the Date: summer fundraiser & more!

June
2022

CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH WITH GHF!

Join GHF in celebrating Pride Health Month via Facebook Live!

Georgians for a Healthy Future will host a Pride Month discussion on FaceBook Live TODAY, 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.

Tune in TODAY, June 29th, at 12pm to GHF’s Facebook page!

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Peach Pulse | Tomorrow’s mental health convo., free policy workshop, volunteer with GHF & more!

May 2022

CELEBRATE MENTAL HEALTH MONTH WITH GHF!

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.

Tune in tomorrow, May 25th, at 12pm to GHF’s Facebook page!

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.

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Peach Pulse | Join GHF’s housing leadership group, how a tax credit impacts health, share your health care story & more!

APRIL 2022

GEORGIANS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES:

HELP GHF IMPROVE HOUSING & SUPPORT SERVICES!

Join GHF’s housing leadership group now!

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!

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Peach Pulse | ACTION ALERT, Cover GA advocacy day, 12 years of ACA, share your health care story & more!

MARCH 2022

LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING TO AN END

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.

Now is the time! Please call or email your Senator to say why you support this bill and to ask for their strong support too.

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Peach Pulse | Legislative session, Cover GA save the date, share your health care story & more!

FEBRUARY 2022

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.

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Peach Pulse | Thank you, what’s happening with Kemp’s waivers, & more!

JANUARY 2022

HEALTH CARE UNSCRAMBLED AVAILABLE ON-DEMAND!

Thank you for (virtually) joining us!

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.

Don’t forget! GHF has you covered for the 2022 Georgia legislative session. Review GHF’s 2021-2022 policy priorities, track health-related legislation, and contact your elected officials on our website and in your inbox each week.

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Peach Pulse | Thank you, mark your calendars, get covered & more!

DECEMBER 2021

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Thank you for your 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!

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!

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Get covered now! Deadline is approaching soon!

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!

GHF IN THE NEWS

Advocates rally against plan to bypass healthcare.gov as feds seek public input
Georgia Recorder | December 7, 2021

COVID-19 UPDATES IN GEORIGA

Shareable Graphics: Omicron Variant
Public Health Communications Collaborative

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.

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots
Center for Diease Control and Prevention

More information on who can get boosters shots, when to get them and which booster shot to choose from.

First case of COVID omicron variant in Georgia resident detected
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The first case of a highly mutated variant has been detected in a Georgia resident, health officials said.

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Peach Pulse | Comment period, Giving Tuesday, HCU 2022, ACA open enrollment, & more!

NOVEMBER 2021

TWO WAYS TO HELP

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!

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Now is the time to get covered!

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.

GHF IN THE NEWS

Federal Medicaid workaround called short-term substitute for Georgia expansion
Georgia Recorder | November 4, 2021

COVID-19 UPDATES IN GEORIGA

Updated Toolkit: Children and COVID-19 Vaccination
Public Health Communications Collaborative

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.

Office of the Surgeon General: Toolkit to Address Health Misinformation
Public Health Communications Collaborative

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 FDA authorizes COVID booster shots for all U.S. adults
NPR

The Food and Drug Administration has given its OK for fully vaccinated Americans who are age 18 and older to receive a COVID-19 booster shot.

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