Senior Policy Analyst, Health Care
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.
Prior to joining GBPI in 2016, Laura conducted public health research, policy analysis, and advocacy on food insecurity and poverty issues as a fellow with the Congressional Hunger Center in Washington, D.C. She produced policy briefs and reports to provide evidence-based recommendations for state and national lawmakers. She worked with the Office of the Associate Director for Policy at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a graduate student to conduct policy assessments and impact analysis in support of the National Prevention Strategy.
Laura graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a master’s degree in public health policy from Emory University.
Recent Posts by Laura
Medicaid is Now an Even Better Deal for Georgia
Georgia’s pending Medicaid waiver plan partially expands Medicaid coverage to adults with incomes below the poverty …
Expand Medicaid Fully; Reject Risky and Expensive State Plan
Key Takeaways: The federal Medicaid agency is starting the process of revoking the work requirement on Georgia’s Medicaid …
Overview: 2022 Fiscal Year Budget for Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Gov. Brian Kemp’s fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget proposal increases funding for the Department of Behavioral …
Overview: 2022 Fiscal Year Budget for the Department of Public Health
Gov. Brian Kemp proposed a 2022 budget of $269.8 million in state general funds for the …
Overview: 2022 Fiscal Year Budget for the Department of Community Health
Gov. Brian Kemp proposed a 2022 budget of $3.48 billion in state general funds for the …
Fact Sheet: Supporting Early Childhood Education Programs for Health and Well-Being of Georgia Children and Families
Early care and education (ECE) centers play an integral role in the health and well-being for …
Support Early Childhood Education Programs for Health and Well-Being of Georgia Families
This report was written in partnership with Jyll Walsh, GBPI doctoral intern. Early care and education (ECE) centers …
Georgia Health Care Budget Primer for State Fiscal Year 2021
Georgia’s 2021 Health Care Budget Three state agencies are primarily responsible for health care services in Georgia: the …
GBPI Submits Public Comment on New 1332 Waiver Application
July 23, 2020 Ryan Loke c/o The Office of the Governor 206 Washington Street Suite 115, State Capitol …
Make Public Health a Priority in Georgia During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
The state of Georgia plans to spend about $4 billion in state funds on health care programs in …
Georgia’s COVID-19 Public Health Response Must Include Support for Stable, Quality Housing
The COVID-19 pandemic is making it even more clear how interconnected health is with other areas of life …
Fast Facts on Medicaid Expansion
Key Takeaways The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting Black Georgians, who are more likely to contract and pass …
