Contact Senator Beach, chair of the Transportation Committee, to thank him for holding a hearing on SR 654 and that we desperately need dedicated sources of funding for public transportation. We’re tired of sitting in traffic and toll lanes will not solve the problem alone. Commuters deserve more options. Local businesses deserve their employees to have access to better transportation.
Senate Bill 330 directs Georgia’s Department of Community Health to develop a new insurance option called “Peachcare Public Option” that allows ALL Georgians, regardless of age, income level, or insurance status to buy in to Georgia’s Medicaid Managed Care program, the same system used for Georgia’s popular Peachcare for Kids program. It would offer Medicaid benefits at-cost and allow those eligible for cost-sharing subsidies and tax credits under the ACA to use those benefits to cover the cost of the plan. Peachcare Public Option would be offered on the marketplace alongside private plans.
that allows ALL Georgians, regardless of age, income level, or insurance status to buy in to Georgia’s Medicaid Managed Care program, the same system used for Georgia’s popular Peachcare for Kids program. It would offer Medicaid benefits at-cost and allow those eligible for cost-sharing subsidies and tax credits under the ACA to use those benefits to cover the cost of the plan. Peachcare Public Option would be offered on the marketplace alongside private plans.
Public insurance programs capitalize on tremendous economies of scale and offer a comprehensive, affordable alternative to fill the gaps where private insurance fails. Both Medicaid and Peachcare for Kids recipients are overwhelmingly satisfied with their coverage. Last week, the American College of Physicians, one of the country’s largest physician groups, issued a series of policy papers that supported either a single-payer system or a robust public option to increase healthcare access to more Americans. Washington State passed a public health care option for their citizens last year and close to 20 other states are taking a serious look at how to make public option plans work for them.
Georgians deserve a healthcare option that has their best interests at heart. Contact your Senator and Representative to let them know you support a public option. www.openstates.org
Gracie’s Law would protect organ transplant discrimination for Georgians with disabilities
Rep. Rick Williams has introduced HB 842, titled “Gracie’s Law.” According to the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), Gracie’s Law would protect patients with disabilities from being removed from the organ donor waiting list because of their disability. According to an article in GCDD’s Making a Difference magazine, “While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) denies discrimination based on any disability, there is still a lack of federal enforcement,” prompting the need for state action on this issue. This bill has been referred to the House Insurance committee. You can read more about Gracie’s Law here (pg. 12-13). Contact your representative www.Openstates.org and members of the House Insurance Committee to support this bill.