Peach Pulse Archives

If you’re looking to be on trend, healthy, and smart this summer then it’s time to talk about COVID-19 vaccines! In our latest blog, GHF’s Communications & Special Projects Manager, Michelle Conde shares her experience and why she recommends others get vaccinated too.

Visit our blog to read more about Michelle’s vaccination experience!

¡Visite nuestro blog para leer más sobre la experiencia de vacunación de Michelle!

Through our Georgians in the Driver’s Seat initiative, GHF and The Arc Georgia found that transportation and internet access are two closely related social determinants of health. When one or both are available, access to health care can be easy and when they are missing, Georgians struggle to access health services.

Our newest report, Telemedicine and broadband internet access: A tool, not a cure to transportation-related barriers to care reflects on the expansion of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, its role in reducing transportation-related barriers to health care, and policies needed to physically and digitally connect consumers to care.

Read and share the new report to learn more about the intersection of health transportation and internet access.

A new report from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families (CCF) adds more fuel to the push for Medicaid expansion in Georgia! CCF found that cashiers, cooks, maids and housekeeping staff, waiters/waitresses, and freight and stock laborers are among the most common jobs held by low-wage, uninsured Georgia workers. The report also features an interactive map showing that the rate of uninsured workers in each Georgia county and that rural counties would benefit from most from Medicaid expansion. Check it out at CoverGa.org and share!

Cover Georgia has added another great resource to its blog: an easy-to-understand explanation of the new financial deal available to our state for Medicaid expansion. In addition to the 601 studies proving that Medicaid expansion is a good choice for Georgia, our state can now earn $1.3 Billion by covering low-income workers, parents, veterans, and other adults. That amount would cover the costs of Medicaid expansion for 2 years and leave our state with significant savings to put towards other priorities. Take action by learning and sharing why Medicaid expansion is a deal too good to pass up!

Medicaid has been an integral part of Georgia’s health care system for 54 years. Over the last 16 months, Medicaid has stepped up to serve as a first responder during the COVID-19 pandemic. This incredible public health insurance program has helped our state weather the crisis, but it could do even more!

Our state leaders have a new opportunity to promote the health of Georgians across the state through Medicaid expansion. Under the recently passed American Rescue Plan, Georgia is eligible to receive a $1.3-$2 Billion bonus for finally expanding Medicaid coverage to low-income adults. This is a deal too good to pass up!

Don’t miss your chance to celebrate April as Medicaid Awareness Month and urge Georgia policy makers to expand on Medicaid’s successful legacy by taking action with us today!

1. Write a letter to the editor (LTE)
   Your letter will spread the word in your community and to your state leaders (that’s right, they read these letters!) about Medicaid and the too-good-to-pass-up deal available to expand it. We have made it easy for you with these two tools:
   • Several sample LTEs that you can use to get started.. The samples cover these points of view: financial & economic benefits, promoting racial equity, addressing mental health & substance use, supporting children and families, and recovering from COVID-19.
   • Submit your LTE to your local newspaper using our LTE submission form.
2. Learn more about Medicaid. Find out who is already covered by Medicaid in Georgia, how Medicaid benefits our health care system, and much more with these resources:
   • Medicaid Matters to Georgia storybook
   • Medicaid Matters for Georgia fact sheet
   • Fast Facts for Medicaid Expansion
   • Medicaid in Georgia enrollment fact sheet
3. Spread the word on social media! 
Share one of our Facebook or Twitter posts and let others know that it’s time to take action on Medicaid expansion!

Following the close of Georgia’s 2021 legislative session, Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute hosted a wrap-up conversation to highlight the session’s most important health-related outcomes. Special guest Representative Matthew Wilson joined in to tell us how the legislature’s work will impact your health, health care, and health coverage. If you missed this great discussion, it is available now on GHF’s Facebook page!

This dynamic session provided participants with a better understanding of COVID-19’s impact and the role of Medicaid on Georgia’s disability community. Led and facilitated by Georgians with disabilities, the discussion centered their perspectives on health advocacy, today’s most important health policy issues, how they are stepping up to be leaders in their communities, and how you can too! If you missed it, visit GHF’s Facebook page to watch it on demand!

Georgia’s 2021 legislative session is set to wrap up tonight! Today is 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 here at legis.ga.gov.

GHF will send our next legislative update this Friday with a run-down of which health bills made it over the finish line before the General Assembly gaveled out. You can find a full list of health related legislation at GHF’s legislative tracker.

Our state leaders have a new opportunity to promote the health of Georgians across the state! Under the recently passed American Rescue Plan, Georgia is eligible to receive a $1.3 Billion incentive for expanding Medicaid coverage to low-income adults. The new funding covers the costs of Medicaid expansion and leaves $710 million available to spend on other state priorities.

Your friends and family, and our state leaders need to know about this exciting deal so our state can take advantage of it! Last week Cover Georgia placed these full-page ads in newspapers across the state to let our elected leaders know that Medicaid expansion is a deal too good to pass up.

Over 500,000 Georgians remain uninsured, rural hospitals continue to close, and our health care system struggles to keep up because Georgia leaders have refused to expand Medicaid. It’s time to close Georgia’s coverage gap, extend health coverage to half a million Georgians, and accelerate Georgia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Share the Cover Georgia ad and the new CoverGA.org/GoodDeal page with your elected officials. Let them know that Medicaid expansion is the best deal for Georgia!

Through our Georgians in the Driver’s Seat initiative, GHF and The Arc Georgia examined how transportation impacts access to health care in Georgia. In the first of two reports, GHF looks at data about each Georgia county to examine where Georgians may face the highest hurdles getting to and from health services because of transportation shortages. Our analysis suggests Georgians in most counties face some transportation-related barriers. GHF paired the analysis with input from consumers and health care providers to offer recommendations for policy solutions.

Check out your county’s results and learn how Georgia advocates, policy makers, and community members can work together to eliminate transportation as a barrier to health and health care!

Stay tuned for our follow-up report on the intersection of internet access, transportation, and health care!

Georgia’s state leaders continue to reject Medicaid expansion for a plan that would cover far fewer Georgians, impose burdensome work requirements, and leave millions in Georgia’s tax dollars on the table. But recently federal officials hit the brakes on the Governor’s plan, saying the proposed work requirements violate federal law and a recent Executive Order from President Biden. Georgia still has an option to cover more people through Medicaid expansion!

Federal officials will now revisit the thousands of comments Georgians submitted about the Governor’s plan since November 2019. Nine out of ten commenters opposed the Governor’s plan and supported Medicaid expansion instead! These comments will influence how federal officials negotiate with state leaders about the Governor’s plan.

What’s next for the Governor’s plan is a bit unclear, but Georgia still has the option to expand Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of Georgians! Even better, Congress’s upcoming COVID-19 relief package would increase Medicaid funding to more than cover the cost of full expansion for the first two years. Our state must take advantage of this one-time deal to expand Medicaid! Ask your state leaders to act now and expand Medicaid!

Last week, Governor Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) announced a new website where Georgians can pre-register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible Georgians can book appointments through MyVaccineGeorgia.com and those who are not yet eligible can sign up to be notified when they become eligible.

Current vaccine priority list:

• Front-line health care workers
• Residents of long-term care facilities (like nursing homes)
• Adults over the age of 65
• First responders, including law enforcement and firefighters

This year Georgians for a Healthy Future and our partners at Georgia Watch led the effort to pass Georgia’s new comprehensive surprise billing law. Georgia is now the 16^th state to have adopted comprehensive protections against surprise medical bills. The new law will allow 2.5 million Georgians to access health services without the worry of being hit by expensive and unfair medical bills after the fact. The Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act becomes effective January 1, 2021.

Celebrate this HUGE success with us by re-sharing this FaceBook post or tweet or with a donation! Thank you!

Join us online January 7, 8, and 14 for this special opportunity to discuss how the 2020 elections will shape 2021’s health policy and advocacy landscape; lessons learned about the social determinants of health during the COVID-19 pandemic; and how the imperative of racial equity shapes the work of health advocates.

In recognition of these tough economic times, we are offering this year’s program at no cost to individual attendees. For those who can afford it, we hope you will consider donating $10 for each session you plan to attend or register as a sponsor.

GHF is hiring for a full-time Health Policy Analyst! The Health Policy Analyst will support GHF’s public policy and advocacy work across a spectrum of health policy issues, including Medicaid, private market health insurance reforms (including the Affordable Care Act), delivery system reform, health equity, and public health.

Please visit GHF’s Employment Opportunities page for more information about this position and how to apply.

Last week GHF’s Alyssa Green and 9to5’s Mica Whitfield held a FaceBook Live conversation, Governor Kemp’s health care plans approved: What do they mean for you? They talked about Governor Kemp’s recently approved health care plans which will change Georgians’ access to Medicaid and private insurance. Alyssa and Mica helped viewers understand when these plans will take effect, who will be impacted, and what you can do to help Georgians get and stay covered. If you missed the conversation you can catch up on 9to5’s Facebook page or check out our blog on the topic.

This year Community Catalyst’s Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation recognized organizations who have maintained their work creating a consumer-centered health system in the face of COVID19. Georgians for a Healthy Future and The Arc Georgia were recognized for our Georgians in the Driver’s Seat project which aims to eliminate transportation and internet access as barriers to health care for Georgians. We are humbled and proud to receive this recognition with our partners at The Arc Georgia and alongside the other deserving honorees.

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!

This holiday season you can support GHF while you shop online. Amazon Smile will donate a small percent of your eligible purchases to Georgians for a Healthy Future at no extra cost to you. All you have to do is sign up and shop at smile.amazon.com. It’s an easy way to support GHF through the holidays and all year! To learn more and sign up, click here.