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

Child-health-Medicaid Health Justice

Gutting Federal Health Law Imperils Georgia Families, Hospitals, State Budget

The American Health Care Act (AHCA) proposes substantial cuts to Medicaid and changes in the insurance marketplace sure ...
Siblings-Playing Fact Sheets

Medicaid Works for Georgia

Medicaid and PeachCare provide almost 2 million Georgians with access to health care, including 1.3 million children. About ...
Georgia-Capitol-and-Flag-696x464 Blog

Proposed Federal Health Bill Is Potential 10-year, $4 Billion Drain on Georgia Treasury

Georgia stands to lose $4 billion in federal Medicaid funding over ten years if the proposed American Health ...
Vaccination-696x460 Fact Sheets

Planned Medicaid Changes Put State Health System at Risk

Congressional proposals to remake the federal Medicaid funding system into one based on block grants or one that ...
measurement-696x385 Budget and Taxes

Overview: 2018 Budget for Department of Community Health

Governor Nathan Deal proposes a 2018 budget of $2.57 billion in state general funds for the Department of ...
Health-Care-Worker Blog

Georgia’s Economy at Risk if Affordable Care Act Repealed

Earlier this month the U.S. Congress passed a budget resolution in the first steps to repeal the Affordable Care ...

Georgia’s interest ebbs in Medicaid expansion

State lawmakers were teed up last month to discuss ways of expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act ...
Doctor-Visit-696x463 Blog

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 ...
Doctor-Pediatrician Featured

Unlocking the Benefits of an Inclusive Health Workforce

Diversifying Georgia’s Health Workforce Could Expand Access, Improve Care As the population of Georgia continues to rapidly grow ...
Blood-Test Blog

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

Georgia approaches a critical juncture for leaders to remedy its strained health care system and close the insurance ...
Charlton-Memorial-Hospital-696x522 Blog

Charlton Ranks Among Georgia Counties With Dire Health Provider Shortages

Nearly two-thirds of Georgia’s counties fall below the statewide average number of nurses, physician assistants, total doctors and ...
North-Georgia-hospital-696x464 Blog

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

Last week, the North Georgia Medical Center in Ellijay, Georgia closed and left yet another county with a ...

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