Georgia received HRSA State Planning Grant funds in 2002 to develop a strategy for providing access to affordable health insurance for every citizen of the state. The activities of the project included:
- The establishment of the Governor's Action Group on the Accessibility and Affordability of Health Insurance to recommend strategies to address the accessibility and affordability of health insurance by conducting public hearings and town hall meetings, directing and considering staff research results and recommendations, and establishing guiding principles;
- A review of existing data and collection of new data, to build a complete and data-driven picture of Georgia's uninsured population, insured population, and the beliefs of Georgians about expanding access to health insurance;
- Development of a 3-year strategic plan for providing access to affordable health insurance for all Georgia citizens based on the recommendations of the Governor's Action Group on the Accessibility and Affordability of Health Insurance and the results of the quantitative and qualitative data collection activities; and
- Building sufficient public and political consensus and interest to assure success of the strategic plan by addressing the health insurance needs of all Georgians in a comprehensive and cooperative manner.
In 2004, Georgia was awarded a HRSA pilot planning project grant with the objective of implementing separate pilots in four communities. Recognizing geographic differences in coverage trends, the grant team explored several coverage options including a "three-share" program in which employers, workers, and the local government share n the cost of health care. Another community considered partnering with commercial insurers to reduce costs.
State Profiles
