Georgia’s Investment Does Not Keep Pace With Growing Needs
The governor’s proposed budget includes about as much general fund support for Georgia’s public health programs as it did in 2001. Meanwhile, Georgia’s population grew by 21.2 percent from 2000 to 2012, a rate nearly twice that of the country as a whole during the same time. As a result, Georgia’s per-capita investment in public health activities fell by about 15 percent over the 13 years. The lack of investment was ill-timed. Georgia continues to face high rates of heart disease, high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, diabetes and a variety of other preventable health conditions that drive up health care costs and lower life-expectancy. Download the report.