Georgia Health Initiative

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

At Georgia Health Initiative, we're committed to our vision of a Georgia where all people can attain their fullest potential for health. And that includes mental health.

We're excited to welcome Lizann Roberts to the Board of Georgia Health Initiative!

Lizann has over 35 years of experience in public health leadership and has focused her career on developing public-private endeavors to improve overall community well-being. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Georgia Indicators Coalition , Lizann resides on Isle of Hope in Chatham County.

We're so appreciative of Lizann's guidance and expertise as we work to change systems and inspire bold ideas to improve the health of all Georgians.

Welcome to the Board!
We're pleased to share that Betsy Collins, MD, MPH has joined the Board of Georgia Health Initiative. She is an Assistant Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics with the Generalist Division at Emory University Hospital Midtown (EUHM) where she cares for patients as well as teaches medical students and residents. She also maintains a clinical practice in OB/GYN at EUHM.

Betsy resides in Atlanta with her family and actively lends her voice to address issues that impact Georgians. We're grateful for her leadership and the unique perspective and insights she brings as we work toward our vision of a Georgia where all people have the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential for health.

The possibilities are endless when we work together to change systems and advance bold ideas to improve maternal health in Georgia.

Medicaid expansion in Georgia is projected to create significant job growth in a wide range of sectors, including construction and retail.

More details in our latest Issue Brief:https://georgiahealthinitiative.org/news/issue-brief-georgias-projected-economic-growth-from-medicaid-expansion/

We're excited to welcome Sarah Phillips to the Initiative as Director, Policy Strategies. In this role, she will design and implement policy strategies to advance health equity for Georgians.

Sarah has a background in legislative relations, policy research and analysis, and advocacy training and we're thrilled to have her expertise on !

Medicaid expansion would extend health coverage to uninsured Georgians living in rural communities and would also strengthen our rural economy.

Our latest issue brief highlights the economic impact: https://georgiahealthinitiative.org/news/issue-brief-georgias-projected-economic-growth-from-medicaid-expansion/

Our latest Issue Brief highlights the powerful economic stimulus that Medicaid expansion would bring to Georgia.

Read it here: https://georgiahealthinitiative.org/news/issue-brief-georgias-projected-economic-growth-from-medicaid-expansion/

By expanding Medicaid, Georgia’s economy would grow, incomes would increase - and we’d create tens of thousands of new jobs each year across business sectors.

Learn more by reading the issue brief here: https://georgiahealthinitiative.org/news/issue-brief-georgias-projected-economic-growth-from-medicaid-expansion/

Our new Issue Brief highlights substantial economic growth across business sectors and in every region of the state by expanding Medicaid in Georgia.

Check it out here:https://georgiahealthinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GeorgiaHealthInitiative-IssueBrief-032524.pdf

“Ky Lindberg…has played a pivotal role in enhancing the lives of women around the Atlanta Metro Area regardless of their background..”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves and we're so happy to have you on !

Congratulations to Initiative VP of Community Engagement, Ky Lindberg, who was recently honored with a Proclamation by the Doraville City Council as part of Women’s History Month for her contributions to the community.

Health coverage is foundational: it facilitates access to health care services, provides financial protection against unexpected and high medical costs, and supports better health outcomes.

More than 1.2 million Georgians, however, lack health coverage, due in part to a coverage gap where people with incomes above the Medicaid eligibility limit but too low to qualify for subsidies in the Marketplace have no viable options for health coverage.

Our new report, “Closing the Coverage Gap: Policy Considerations for Public-Private Solutions to Expand Health Insurance in Georgia” is now available for download.
https://georgiahealthinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Closing-the-Coverage-Gap.pdf