Atlanta, Georgia – Georgia has received a large federal investment to transform health care in its rural areas. The first year of a new statewide program will get over $219 million. The money is the first step in a five-year plan to help struggling providers, make care more available, and bring more flexible, value-based health models to rural areas.
In late December, state leaders said that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services had granted $218.8 million for Georgia through the Georgia Rural Enhancement and Transformation of Health program, or GREAT Health. The federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which was approved earlier this year with the passage of H.R. 1, includes this project. Georgia’s first-year allotment is one of the biggest in the country.
The money is meant to help rural health systems deal with problems that have been around for a long time, such as hospitals closing, not having enough staff, and not being able to get specialist care. The program’s goal is to improve care delivery while keeping costs down and making it more sustainable in the long run by focusing on innovation and outcomes instead of volume.
Governor Brian Kemp said that the federal cooperation helped move the state’s rural health priorities forward. He also said that the investment opens up new opportunities for doctors who work with some of Georgia’s most at-risk groups.
“I’m thankful for the Trump administration’s dedication to improving healthcare in America and for this substantial investment in Georgia through the Rural Health Transformation Program,” said Governor Brian Kemp.
“This funding will help move us forward in strengthening our rural providers while bringing cost-saving innovations to the state’s health system. I also want to thank the hardworking team at the Department of Community Health that put together such a strong proposal, resulting in one of the largest allotments in this first year of the program.”
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State health authorities said that communities throughout Georgia had a role in how the GREAT Health initiative was put together. Residents, providers, and local officials were all asked to give comments during the application process.
This was done since rural areas confront various problems based on where they are, how many people live there, and what resources are available. The state used that feedback to decide how to improve infrastructure, assist workers, and coordinate care.
Dr. Dean Burke, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health, said that the initiative shows a commitment to real change instead of quick remedies.
“When Georgia was presented with this funding opportunity, we sought public input to shape the grant process – because different rural communities have different needs. Also, this was the state of Georgia’s application, so we wanted to ensure we had Georgia’s input. This funding will allow us to advance transformation by supporting rural residents to live longer, healthier lives with access to more effective and higher-quality health care,” said Dr. Dean Burke, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health
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The Department of Community Health is in charge of Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids, as well as a number of other important health programs that help more than two million Georgians every year. The organization has an annual budget of more than $22 billion and is a key player in setting health policy and providing services across the state.
As planning continues forward and funding starts to be used, state officials said they will share more information about the GREAT Health initiative’s implementation timetables and next steps in the coming weeks.
