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 In The News Laura Harker

Georgia’s interest ebbs in Medicaid expansion

December 13, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Laura Harker

State lawmakers were teed up last month to discuss ways of expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act that have been favored in other conservative states. But that was before Donald Trump’s stunning victory, which has made an overhaul of the controversial Obamacare law all but certain. Read the full article on The Tifton Gazzette.

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Affordable Care Act Repeal Risks Health of 1 million Georgians

Blog Health Justice Laura Harker

Affordable Care Act Repeal Risks Health of 1 million Georgians

December 12, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Laura Harker | 2 Comments on Affordable Care Act Repeal Risks Health of 1 million Georgians

Congress appears poised to repeal much of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) early in 2017 before enacting a replacement plan for 2019 when the repeal would likely take effect. This repeal and delay approach threatens 1 million Georgians who stand to lose health coverage in 2019. Without the ability to see a doctor, many more […]

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Unlocking the Benefits of an Inclusive Health Workforce

Featured Health Justice Laura Harker Reports

Unlocking the Benefits of an Inclusive Health Workforce

October 7, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Laura Harker

Diversifying Georgia’s Health Workforce Could Expand Access, Improve Care As the population of Georgia continues to rapidly grow and diversify, it is important that the health care system keeps up to serve more patients from a wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Training and attracting new providers is critical to meet the state’s health […]

Key Elements of an Effective Medicaid Expansion for Georgia Lawmakers to Consider

Blog Health Justice Laura Harker

Key Elements of an Effective Medicaid Expansion for Georgia Lawmakers to Consider

August 31, 2016 / January 17, 2020 by Laura Harker

Georgia approaches a critical juncture for leaders to remedy its strained health care system and close the insurance coverage gap through Medicaid expansion. State lawmakers sound more open than ever to accepting billions of federal dollars that can provide access to a doctor for hundreds of thousands of Georgians. Today, a Georgia Chamber of Commerce […]

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Charlton Ranks Among Georgia Counties With Dire Health Provider Shortages

Blog Health Justice Laura Harker

Charlton Ranks Among Georgia Counties With Dire Health Provider Shortages

July 1, 2016 / January 15, 2020 by Laura Harker

Nearly two-thirds of Georgia’s counties fall below the statewide average number of nurses, physician assistants, total doctors and primary care doctors per 100,000 residents. In many rural counties, shortages reflect financial ills in local health care systems, even hospital closures. Community health care cornerstones like Charlton Memorial Hospital closed across the state in recent years. […]

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Several remedies show promise for Georgia’s health care provider shortage

Blog Featured Health Justice Laura Harker

Several remedies show promise for Georgia’s health care provider shortage

June 16, 2016 / February 26, 2021 by Laura Harker

Last week, the North Georgia Medical Center in Ellijay, Georgia closed and left yet another county with a shortage of hospital beds. In light of this and other recent hospital closures, a newly released report from GBPI outlines potential solutions to Georgia’s ongoing struggle with lack of doctors, nurses and health staff to meet the […]

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