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Healthcare Reform
Healthcare Reform
Georgia's Health Safety Net in Trouble Atlanta, GA (2010-02-10) Some 1.7 million Georgians don't have health insurance. That's about 18 percent of the states' population. When they get sick, they depend on a health safety net. That safety net is stretched thin and it's expensive to keep up. From Georgia Public Broadcasting, Susanna Capelouto reports.
Georgia Gets Failing Grades Tobacco Prevention/Policy Atlanta, GA (2010-01-12) Georgia is failing in its tobacco control laws and policies. That's based on the annual state of tobacco control report just released by the American Lung Association. WABE's Rose Scott reports:
Grady Dialysis Patients get Extension on Private Care Atlanta, GA (2010-01-04) Yesterday was supposed to be the last day that Grady Hospital would pay for its former patients to get dialysis treatments at private area clinics. Instead, the hospital says it will continue paying for 30 days more, while they try to find other care arrangements for those patients. WABE's Odette Yousef reports.
Health Care Reform Costs in Georgia: Another Analyst's Perspective Atlanta, GA (2009-12-29) In our previous conversation on health care reform, an analyst with the think tank Georgia Budget and Policy Institute argued that Georgia would get a good deal from the health care reform plan passed by the U.S. Senate--even if it costs the state hundreds of millions of extra dollars per year. Now, the president of another Georgia think tank, the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, argues the other side.
Health Care Reform Costs in Georgia: One Analyst's View Atlanta, GA (2009-12-28) How much will health care reform cost the state of Georgia--and its taxpayers? Last week, the state Dept. of Community Health estimated hundreds of millions of dollars in new expenses each year, under the reform plan passed by the U.S. Senate. But one Atlanta-based budget analyst argues the Senate health reform plan is still a good deal for Georgia in the long run.
Perdue Asks AG to Review Constitutionality of Senate Health Bill Atlanta, GA (2009-12-24) Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has asked the state's Attorney General to look into the constitutionality of deals that Senate leadership made to pass a federal health care bill this morning. A handful of other states said they're looking into it, claiming it's unfair that Nebraska and Louisiana, among others, got special treatment. WABE's Odette Yousef reports.
Healthcare Reform Advocates Call on Sen. Isakson to Support Single-Payer System Atlanta, GA (2009-12-10) As the U.S. Senate debates whether to include a so-called "public option" in its version of a healthcare reform bill, some Georgians Thursday urged Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) to bypass that option in favor of something even more inclusive. WABE's Jim Burress reports.
Sen. Isakson Predicts Health Care Debate Will Extend Into Next Year; Remains Opposed to Public Option Atlanta, GA (2009-11-10) Now that the U.S. House has passed its health care reform bill, the Senate takes center stage. But Georgia Republican Senator Johnny Isakson predicts a long and tough debate will drag into next year. Isakson told WABE's Denis O'Hayer he remains completely opposed to including a government-funded health insurance option which is part of the bill passed by the House. But Isakson insisted that, even if the public option is defeated, some health care reform can still pass the Senate.
Georgia Lawmakers Split on Healthcare Reform Vote Atlanta, GA (2009-11-08) In a close House vote over the weekend for sweeping healthcare reform, Georgia's Congressional representatives largely opposed the legislation. As WABE's Jim Burress reports, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) was one of the bill's champions. He called on lawmakers to look past politics.
DeKalb Health Director Says Major Care Reform Proposals are Missing Something Atlanta, GA (2009-09-18) We continue our series of health reform conversations with Atlanta leaders from different points of view this time, with Dr. Elizabeth Ford. She's the district health director for DeKalb County the county's top public health official. She told W-A-B-E's Denis O'Hayer that whether an overhauled system includes a public option, a network of cooperatives or something else it should include some mandates: But different kinds of mandates than those most leaders are emphasizing now.
Georgia Families See Health Premiums Outstrip Income Atlanta, GA (2009-09-17) Health insurance premiums for the average Georgian family are way outstripping the median household income. That's what a report from the Washington-based health care advocacy group Families USA says. WABE's Odette Yousef reports.