GBPI In The News WABE: First batch of Georgians lose Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids during ‘unwinding’ June 12, 2023 / July 12, 2023 by Anthony Hill The Georgia Department of Community Health reports at least 1,581 Georgians on Medicaid are losing their health insurance during the so-called Medicaid unwinding that is now underway across the country. For months, health advocates have sounded the alarm that many who remain eligible for coverage could be cut off for avoidable problems, such as missing […] Read more » health-care Medicaid Expansion medicaid unwinding PeachCare
GBPI In The News Taxes in Georgia fall in April, but budget picture still bright May 10, 2023 / May 19, 2023 by Anthony Hill Georgia remains on track for another budget surplus, even after the state’s tax revenues fell in April. The state has collected $27.8 billion in General Fund revenue through April, according to figures released Tuesday by Gov. Brian Kemp. That’s only about 1% more than last year, with revenue growth slowing down after running red hot […] Read more » Budget Surplus revenue estimate Revenue Shortfall Reserve surplus tax and budget
GBPI In The News Georgia’s struggling school bus system: Finding funds and drivers May 8, 2023 / May 19, 2023 by Anthony Hill Over the past 30 years, as Georgia’s population has grown, public schools in most districts have seen increased enrollment, fuel prices have risen, and labor costs have soared. The state’s student transportation budget has expanded, too, tripling in size. Owens of GBPI said the state’s 2022 appropriation for buses “is a wonderful and welcome investment, […] Read more » bus driver bus driver shortage Economic Justice k-12 education school bus worker justice
GBPI In The News COVID-era funding largesse for health care about to end May 5, 2023 / May 19, 2023 by Anthony Hill America’s three-year experiment with an approximation of European-style universal health care will come to an end May 11 when the federal public health emergency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic expires. A series of health-care and insurance-coverage provisions that were put in place to deal with the pandemic are about to go away, which experts […] Read more » American Rescue Plan COVID-19 pandemic Economic Justice health-care worker justice
GBPI In The News Atlanta jobs: a story of upbeat caution April 28, 2023 / May 1, 2023 by Anthony Hill Atlanta’s economic optimism has turned a bit cautious. Hiring is solid if unspectacular, but layoffs are few — signs that employers are aware of potential economic trouble and don’t want to be overextended. But they also have plenty of business now and don’t want to find themselves suddenly scrambling to fill positions in a market […] Read more » Economic Justice Unemployment Unemployment Insurance worker justice
GBPI In The News Georgia Food Banks Gear Up for Summertime Demand a Year After Pandemic Food Stamp Benefits Ended April 13, 2023 / May 1, 2023 by Anthony Hill Since last summer, thousands of Georgians have turned to food banks, kitchens and shelters in order to make up for the loss of extra federal food stamp benefits that kept them from going hungry during the worst of the pandemic. As inflation has pushed up prices on food and other necessities, the pandemic-era SNAP assistance […] Read more » Economic Justice Economic Security Food Assistance food insecurity food justice food stamps
GBPI In The News Guest Column: Gen Z Among the Groups to Experience Massive Loss of Healthcare Coverage April 6, 2023 / May 1, 2023 by Anthony Hill Thanks to a pandemic-era federal policy, all states, including Georgia, have suspended annual renewals since early 2020 and kept their Medicaid-eligible population enrolled in coverage. The end of this Medicaid continuous enrollment is known as the ‘Medicaid unwinding’. Starting in April, Georgia has 14 months to re-determine the eligibility of all 2.7 million children and […] Read more » Medicaid Expansion medicaid unwinding Op-Ed
GBPI In The News Opponents Argue Bill Threatens State’s Unemployment Fund April 5, 2023 / May 1, 2023 by Anthony Hill Senate Bill 160, which the House’s Republican majority passed 97-68 along party lines, replaces a state Department of Labor administrative fee that expired at the end of last year using money that otherwise would go into Georgia’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund. ”UI Trust Fund contributions should not be reduced to compensate for other funding […] Read more » Unemployment Unemployment Insurance unemployment trust fund worker justice
GBPI In The News 2.7 million Georgians must recertify for Medicaid, Peachcare after April 1 March 30, 2023 / May 1, 2023 by Anthony Hill Three years ago, in March 2020, as the pandemic began, Congress authorized emergency funding bill that allowed millions of Americans to keep their Medicaid coverage without having to get re-certified every year. The goal was to prevent Medicaid recipients from losing coverage during the public health emergency. Since the policy went into effect, Leah Chan, […] Read more » medicaid Medicaid Expansion medicaid unwinding PeachCare
GBPI In The News New reentry program aims to help Henry County inmates; Proposed legislation could negatively impact Georgia’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund March 17, 2023 / May 1, 2023 by Anthony Hill Ray Khalfani, Georgia Budget Policy Institute’s Senior Worker Justice Policy Analyst, discusses how HB 518 and SB 160 could potentially risk the solvency of Georgia’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund with Rose Scott. Hear the full discussion on WABE. Read more » Economic Security Unemployment Insurance unemployment trust fund worker justice