LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK 4

New Bill Aims to Create Georgia’s First Community Health Worker Certification Program

This week, lawmakers introduced House Bill 291, a bill that would create a state certification process for Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Georgia. CHWs are trusted public health professionals who connect Georgians, especially those in underserved communities, to health care and essential services. People know them by titles such as Patient Navigator, Community Health Advocate, and Promotora de Salud. CHWs play a vital role in improving health outcomes, delivering culturally-relevant information and care, and addressing social determinants of health like housing, transportation, and food insecurity.

HB 291 would help build a skilled and stable CHW workforce by establishing a certification process. The bill expands CHW’s ability to serve in various health care and community settings. HB 291 could also pave the way for Georgia Medicaid to reimburse CHWs in more settings and roles. Currently, Medicaid only covers CHW services provided through the Resource Mothers program, which supports certain pregnant and postpartum individuals. Certification could allow Medicaid to fund CHW services in more health care teams, public health programs, and care coordination efforts statewide.

If passed, HB 291 would recognize CHWs as essential members of Georgia’s health care system. It would ensure they have the training, support, and financial sustainability needed to continue their work.

This is one of GHF’s 2025-2026 legislative priorities, and we support this bill. We’ll keep tracking HB 291 and advocating for strong policies that support CHWs and expand access to care. Keep reading for more updates!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK 3

New Medicaid Expansion Bill has Bipartisan Support

A new bill, Senate Bill 50, to expand health insurance to low-income Georgia adults was introduced in the Senate this week. For the first time since Medicaid expansion became available to states, four Republican senators joined Democrats in support of a legislative solution to close Georgia’s coverage gap! The bill would create a new program called “PeachCare Plus”. It is nearly identical to the PeachCare Plus bill introduced during last year’s legislative session, the first Medicaid expansion bill to receive a legislative hearing in Georgia. Rather than expanding the state-run Medicaid program, SB 50 would introduce a private insurance model, using federal dollars to purchase coverage for eligible individuals (adults with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level) through Georgia’s health insurance marketplace.

Too many Georgians are forced to choose between medical care and paying their bills. Closing Georgia’s health insurance coverage gap would provide life-saving coverage to thousands of uninsured Georgians. We support this legislation and will keep you updated as it moves through the legislative process.

Read on for key takeaways from other bills on our radar, and opportunities to advocate with us and our partners at the Capitol. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK 2

Severe Weather Closed the State Capitol for Most of the Week 

Severe weather disrupted last week’s legislative schedule, postponing budget hearings and other activities. As a result, some state agencies will now present their budget requests this week. Since there wasn’t much action at the Capitol last week, we’ve covered a few more health-related bills from the first week of session below. 

Update on State Agency Budget Presentations:

State agency budget presentations now begin this week. For the latest schedule, check out the legislative session schedule here. Two upcoming meetings on our radar are: 

• Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources (House)–where legislators will hear presentations about the human resource needs of the Departments of Human Services and Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, as well as the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
• Appropriations Subcommittee on Health (House)–where legislators will hear budget presentations from the Departments of Community Health and Public Health

What Does Georgia’s Health Care Future Look Like?

Imagine a Georgia where every family has access to affordable health care, where mental health services are readily available, and where no one falls through the cracks of a complex system. Achieving this vision requires bold ideas, collaborative solutions, and voices from every corner of the state. That’s exactly what happened on January 14, 2025, at Georgians for a Healthy Future’s 15th Annual Health Care Unscrambled.

With over 200 advocates, policymakers, and public health experts gathered at the Georgia Freight Depot, the event served as a catalyst for action, offering actionable insights and solutions to the challenges shaping Georgia’s health care landscape.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK 1

Georgia’s 2025 Legislative Session Has Officially Begun

On Monday, January 13th, the Georgia General Assembly convened to kick off the first year of the state’s two-year legislative cycle. During this period, lawmakers will introduce and consider bills that have two years (this session and next) to become law. The legislative session gives state lawmakers a chance to address key issues affecting Georgians, including health and health care.

The following day GHF hosted Health Care Unscrambled 2025 (our 15th annual HCU!), where we unveiled our 2025-2026 policy priorities. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended! If you missed the event or would like to revisit the discussions, you can find a full recap on our event page here, including a recording and presentation slides. 

On Thursday, Governor Kemp delivered his State of the State address and unveiled his budget proposals for the remainder of the current fiscal year and the next state fiscal year. Below, we’ve highlighted key health-related components of the Governor’s budget for your review.

This Week: Budget Week
House and Senate Appropriations Committee members are holding joint hearings to review state agency budget requests and spending this week. These hearings provide important insights into agency priorities and funding needs for the year ahead.

For more information, you can access the legislative session schedule here.

As Georgians prepare to cast their votes in this year’s elections, the importance of health care policy has never been clearer. From the future of affordable coverage to the persistent gaps in access for communities around our state, the stakes are high. Georgia’s on-going health challenges highlight the need for candidates who prioritize health and wellness. Georgians need elected leaders who will make decisions that ensure access to affordable, high-quality health care, especially for communities who have historically had more difficult barriers to accessing and affording care.

With this in mind, we’ve developed a set of questions for voters to ask state and local candidates on key health care issues affecting communities around our state. These questions can help guide your conversations with candidates at town halls, forums, or on social media.

​​Every person who calls Georgia home deserves to live healthy and thrive. While Georgia has made recent strides to improve the health of our residents, we haven’t yet reached that goal according to Georgians themselves and our state’s health data.

To help state and community leaders make effective and informed decisions about the health and well-being of Georgians, Georgians for a Healthy Future created the illustrated What the health, Georgia guide. This publication is intended to be a reference that decision makers can go back to again and again as they consider new health laws and policies and determine how to invest public funds in health care and public health.

Download a copy of What the Health, Georgia here! 

Last month, GHF welcomed Whitney Griggs as our new Health Policy Analyst and Knetta Adkins as our new Organizing Manager. Whitney will lead GHF’s research, data, and policy analysis work so that GHF remains evidence-based and data-driven. Knetta will build and grow GHF’s outreach and organizing efforts, keeping GHF in touch with the most important health care stakeholders—Georgia’s health care consumers.

Legislative update: Week 8

The GHF team prides itself on delivering timely and accurate updates to you on health care happenings at the Capitol. We hope that you enjoy reading our weekly legislative updates and that they help you stay informed and connected. If you enjoy them, please consider supporting our work with a donation today. Thank you for your continued support!

In this week’s update:

• Action alerts: Ask the House Rules Committee to prioritize mental health & substance use recovery today!
• Bills likely to receive a House or Senate vote today
• Approved last week: Emergency services, prior authorization, & the FY22 big budget
• Advocacy events this week: HIV decriminalization & Medicaid expansion advocacy day!
• U.S. Senate approves COVID-19 relief including extra Medicaid expansion funding for Georgia
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

Legislative Update: Week 7

The GHF team prides itself on being able deliver timely and accurate updates on health care happenings at the Capitol. We hope that you enjoy reading our weekly legislative updates and that they help you stay informed and connected. If you enjoy them, please consider supporting our work with a donation today. Thank you for your continued support!

In this week’s update:

• The General Assembly approves the calendar for the rest of session
• Action alerts: prior authorization, Medicaid expansion, & mental health & substance use updates!
• Legislation: telehealth, changes to nursing rules, & protecting the ACA 
• Advocacy events this week: transgender rights!
• Federal COVID-19 relief – including extra Medicaid expansion funding – passed by U.S. House
• GHF’s got you covered this session!