Author: Laura Harker

Laura Harker is a senior policy analyst at GBPI where she is responsible for researching and reporting on Georgia’s health policies and related spending.

GBPI Presents 1115 Waiver Public Comments

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GBPI Presents 1115 Waiver Public Comments

November 25, 2019 / May 19, 2020 by Laura Harker

On Nov. 22 at the Kennesaw public hearing held by the Georgia Department of Community Health, GBPI Senior Health Policy Analyst Laura Harker offered public comments on the state’s 1115 waiver proposal. Below are her full comments presented at that hearing. The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute shares the goals of increasing access to health […]

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State Health Care Proposals Fall Short and Undermine Comprehensive Health Plans

Health Justice Laura Harker Reports

State Health Care Proposals Fall Short and Undermine Comprehensive Health Plans

November 11, 2019 / October 13, 2026 by Laura Harker

Download PDF On November 4, 2019, Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Community Health released two new health care proposals: draft applications for an 1115 Medicaid waiver and a 1332 state innovation waiver. The 1115 Medicaid waiver focuses on coverage options for people with incomes below the poverty line ($12,000 for an individual […]

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Five-Year Waiting Period Is a Barrier to Immigrant Health Care Access

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Five-Year Waiting Period Is a Barrier to Immigrant Health Care Access

October 21, 2019 / May 19, 2020 by Laura Harker | 1 Comment on Five-Year Waiting Period Is a Barrier to Immigrant Health Care Access

Before 2017, the national uninsured rate for children declined for nearly 10 years; however, the share of uninsured children suddenly increased that year (the most recent year available). In Georgia, the number of children without health insurance increased by 21,000. There are many reasons that progress to covering more children has stalled, including cuts to […]

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Opportunities for Georgia to Best Leverage Medicaid Waivers

Health Justice Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Laura Harker Reports

Opportunities for Georgia to Best Leverage Medicaid Waivers

September 9, 2019 / October 13, 2026 by Laura Harker | 1 Comment on Opportunities for Georgia to Best Leverage Medicaid Waivers

Download PDF Federal health care waivers allow states to “waive” or be exempt from certain federal health program requirements. States can try new approaches to managing health programs if they meet certain requirements for federal approval. Many Georgians face challenges when trying to access quality health care and health-related services. About 1.4 million residents lack […]

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Leverage 1332 Waivers to Make Health Insurance More Affordable and Accessible

Health Justice Laura Harker Reports

Leverage 1332 Waivers to Make Health Insurance More Affordable and Accessible

September 9, 2019 / October 13, 2026 by Laura Harker

Download PDF Federal health care waivers allow states to “waive” or be exempt from certain federal health program requirements. States can try new approaches to managing health programs if they meet certain requirements for federal approval. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 has played a significant role in helping Georgians access health care coverage by […]

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Georgia Health Care Budget Primer for State Fiscal Year 2020

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Georgia Health Care Budget Primer for State Fiscal Year 2020

July 1, 2019 / May 26, 2020 by Laura Harker

You can download and share all the images and charts in the Health Care Primer by clicking here. Three state agencies are primarily responsible for health care services in Georgia: the departments of Community Health, Public Health and Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. State funding for these three agencies totals $5.1 billion in 2020, about […]

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Efforts Advance to Put More Health Care Providers in Reach of Georgians

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Efforts Advance to Put More Health Care Providers in Reach of Georgians

May 8, 2019 / May 26, 2020 by Laura Harker | 1 Comment on Efforts Advance to Put More Health Care Providers in Reach of Georgians

We want all people to be in good health and have access to the health care services they need. But many Georgians are struggling to afford health care, causing them to put their well-being at risk by delaying care or leaving them with medical debt. And some people are not able to find health services […]

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GBPI Continues to Weigh In on Patients First Act

Health Justice Laura Harker Presentations

GBPI Continues to Weigh In on Patients First Act

March 21, 2019 / May 26, 2020 by Laura Harker | 1 Comment on GBPI Continues to Weigh In on Patients First Act

Access to Quality Health Care Hearing for SB 106 – ‘Patients First Act’ Though our Georgia legislators are confident the federal administration will support a partial Medicaid waiver, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute still believes a better waiver design will cover more people. Laura Harker provided testimony to try to influence a better plan for […]

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Opinion: Ga.’s start to expand healthcare access needs work

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Opinion: Ga.’s start to expand healthcare access needs work

February 18, 2019 / May 26, 2020 by Laura Harker

As published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday, February 17, 2019 Georgia lawmakers appear poised to take action to address Georgia’s ongoing health care crisis following nearly seven years of debate over accepting additional federal funding to increase access to health insurance for hundreds of thousands of Georgians. There are currently two major paths before […]

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Medicaid Expansion and Waivers: Two Possible Paths to Extending Health Coverage

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Medicaid Expansion and Waivers: Two Possible Paths to Extending Health Coverage

February 14, 2019 / May 26, 2020 by Laura Harker

Governor Brian Kemp is pursuing legislation that would allow the state to submit two types of waivers aimed at improving health care. The term “waiver” refers to a state opting out of certain requirements set by the federal health agency and trying new approaches to managing health care in the state. SB 106 – the […]

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