When Ed Anderson walks into the Atlanta VA Medical Center, he doesn’t just see a hospital. He sees the place that once saved his life. “I can say with no shame in my voice that the VA mental health care saved my life more than 20, 25 years ago,” said the 71-year-old Air Force veteran. […]
health care
Posted inHealth, Politics & Policy
Rising ACA Premiums Could Leave More Black Georgians Uninsured
Open enrollment for 2026 Affordable Care Act health coverage ends next week, and Georgia residents are bracing for increased premiums and limited affordable coverage options compared to last year. Advocates predict that premiums in Georgia could jump as high as 75% on average, and that Black Georgians, who face higher uninsured rates than white residents, […]
Posted inHealth, Partner Content
Doctors With Troubled Pasts Are Performing Cosmetic Surgeries Tied to Crippling Pain and Injury
This story was originally published by KFF Health News. Not long after California surgeon Andrew S. Hsu landed a job with a cosmetic surgery chain in Georgia, several of his patients suffered disfiguring injuries, and even his new employer had doubts about his competence, court records allege. Hsu, a board-certified general surgeon, was one of […]
Posted inHealth
Need Medical Care but Lack Insurance? These Metro Atlanta Clinics Can Help.
At the ICNA Relief clinic in Decatur, patients ranging from women to children, young men to the elderly, all wait to be seen by the medical staff who are working diligently to provide free health care to residents in metro Atlanta who need it the most. In a modest office tucked away off Memorial Drive, […]
Posted inCommunity, Maternal Health, Mental Health
This Nurse’s Tiny House Clinic Is Reimagining Black Mental Health Care
In a state where mental health care access can be limited, especially for Black communities, one nurse is serving Black Atlantans in an unconventional way – by running a clinic on wheels. Psychiatric nurse practitioner Joanne Patterson launched a virtual practice in 2019 and served over 6,000 patients during the past six years. But after […]
Posted inMaternal Health
Proposed ‘Adriana’s Law’ Would Override Georgia’s Abortion Ban
Over the weekend, 30-year-old Adriana Smith was finally laid to rest after months on life support. Family and friends celebrated the young mother’s life at Fairfield Baptist Church in Lithonia by sharing memories of Smith’s kind spirit, while also expressing concerns about the circumstances surrounding her medical care. “It’s awful what’s happened to this family,” […]
Posted inHealth, Transportation
Patients Are Relying on Lyft, Uber to Travel Far Distances to Medical Care
This article was published by KFF Health News. When Lyft driver Tramaine Carr transports seniors and sick patients to hospitals in Atlanta, she feels like both a friend and a social worker. “When the ride is an hour or an hour and a half of mostly freeway driving, people tend to tell you what they’re […]
Posted inHealth
How Georgia Launching Its Own Health Insurance Marketplace Could Hurt Black Patients
Health equity advocates are urging Gov. Brian Kemp and other healthcare officials to delay the implementation of a state-based marketplace exchange. Last month, Kemp signed legislation that gave the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI) the authority to launch a state-based marketplace exchange. This move would allow the state to exit HealthCare.gov, the […]
Posted inHealth
We Spoke to an Expert About Medicaid Unwinding in Georgia. Here’s What We Learned.
The countdown is officially underway. In just over two weeks, the state will start the process of reviewing and reevaluating eligibility for the 2.7 million people in Georgia on Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids. Under the federal continuous coverage mandate, which has been in place since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, states were required […]
Posted inHealth
Your Medicaid Coverage Could Change Next Month. Here’s What to Know.
If you’re on Medicaid in Georgia, there could be major changes to your coverage in the near future. Starting on April 1, the state will start the process of reviewing and reevaluating eligibility for the 2.7 million people on Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids. According to local experts, it’s estimated that more than 500,000 residents […]