All GHF Initiatives

  Housing is a basic necessity that is deeply and inextricably tied to a person's health. In order to live healthy lives, Georgians need stable, affordable housing that is safe, free from health hazards (such as mold and pests), and located in areas where they can easily access nutritious foods and reliable public transportation. For…

A partnership to prevent alcohol and drug use Georgians for a Healthy Future, the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, and the Center for Pan Asian Communities Services are working together to build a future where Georgia youth have access to substance use prevention and mental health services they need. By joining and supporting our efforts,…

Adequate transportation is important to the health of Georgians because in most cases people need to go to a location outside of their homes to receive medical care. Without access to reliable, safe transportation, Georgians may be forced to skip health appointments, go without medication and ultimately, experience worse health outcomes. The Georgians in the…

There is a growing recognition that factors outside the formal health system such as education, housing, economic opportunity, and transportation can impact the health of individuals, families, and communities. To make inroads in improving population health, we need to look “upstream” at social determinants of health in addition to factors within the health system such as…

Our state's public health system and workforce is fundamental to the health and well-being of Georgians. Improving the health of all Georgians means placing an intentional focus on public health and prevention. Georgians for a Healthy Future supports a strong public health system and the adoption of evidence-based practices that improve health outcomes. Our work in this area ranges…

In addition to overall health outcomes and indicators that consistently place Georgia in the bottom tier nationally, our state has considerable health disparities between communities. Racial and ethnic minority communities, rural and low-income urban communities, and those with disabilities and chronic mental illness, all experience worse health and worse opportunities for health than their peers.…

Health care costs are on the rise again. Without adequate protections in place to ensure affordability for consumers, costs can become a barrier to access. In addition to premiums, consumers also face out-of-pocket costs including deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance. If they go out-of-network, they can even get surprise bills that are beyond their ability to…

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Health care quality is commonly defined as the right care at the right time in the right setting. While Georgia boasts many providers and health systems that provide superb care, many of the quality and outcome indicators for our state illustrate the need for overall improvement. In addition, forces such as consolidation (both on the hospital…

Our health care system is undergoing major change: providers, insurers, and other industry stakeholders are testing and adapting to new payment and delivery models focusing on cost and quality. Yet without strong and informed consumer input, these reforms may not meet the complex needs of patients, consumers, and communities throughout Georgia. Georgians for a Healthy Future has identified health…

Behavioral health parity (often shortened to "parity") describes the equal treatment of mental health (MH) and substance use disorders (SUD) in health insurance plans. For example, when a plan has parity, it means that if a person enrolled in that plan has unlimited doctor visits for chronic conditions like diabetes, then the plan must also…

When consumers enroll in a health insurance plan, they gain access to a network of medical providers. Insurance companies contract with a range of providers, including both primary care and specialty physicians, to deliver health care services included within the plan’s benefit package. This network of providers must be adequate to ensure that consumers enrolled…

Rural Georgians experience health disparities on multiple dimensions: they are less likely to have job-based health insurance, may have to travel long distances to seek medical care, and experience higher rates of chronic health conditions than their suburban and urban counterparts. Rural hospitals are often the cornerstones of rural communities, serving as both an economic engine…

Approximately 1.9 million Georgians have coverage through Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids. While most of those enrolled are children, some low-income parents and people with disabilities are also covered through Medicaid. Because of its essential role in serving children and vulnerable populations, Georgians for a Healthy Future supports policy measures that keep this program strong and…

Veterans, working parents, and low-wage workers fall into the coverage gap between current medicaid coverage and insurance marketplace coverage Since 2013, hundreds of thousands of Georgians have signed up for low-cost health coverage. Being covered means they are less stressed, more financially secure, and healthier. This is exciting progress, yet there is still a missing piece.…

Georgians for a Healthy Future works with community partners throughout the state to help Georgians get covered, stay covered, and use their coverage to access care. Through the Georgia Enrollment Assistance Resource Network, we work with our partners to provide tools and information to enrollment assisters and help connect them to each other. This helps us…

Our health insurance system is rapidly changing. New coverage options and consumer protections enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act have helped hundreds of thousands of Georgians secure health insurance and have expanded the rights and protections of all covered Georgians. At the same time, new models of health insurance (such as narrow networks), industry…

All kids need reliable access to quality health care. Children need to see the doctor even when they are healthy: shots for school, well-child visits, and dental care are all important for kids to grow up healthy and strong. Their parents need coverage too to stay on track with regular screenings and preventive care, to…