The Watcher  News from Georgia Watch

June 2023

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Georgia Watch Comments on AU Health System and Wellstar Merger

Georgia Watch submitted public comments on the proposed change of control of AU Health System to Wellstar Health System. We recognize that recent hospital closures in our state have had devastating effects on patients, employees, surrounding communities, and neighboring health systems. As an organization that advocates for healthcare consumers across the state, Georgia Watch submitted these comments to express particular interest in certain factors to be considered by the Attorney General. In the letter, Georgia Watch urged the Attorney General to ensure that the same services currently offered at AU Medical Center, including Level 1 trauma care and the Children’s Hospital of Georgia, continue to be available to the Augusta community and surrounding region for many years to come. Georgia Watch also urged the Attorney General to hold Wellstar Health System accountable to its commitment to provide healthcare to the disadvantaged, the uninsured, and underinsured populations within the AU Medical Center 16-county service area.

GA Community Health Worker Summit 2023

This month the annual Community Health Worker (CHW) Summit convened in Columbus, GA. The summit facilitated networking and collaboration among CHWs and other healthcare professionals and allies. Our Senior Director of policy and access, Natasha Taylor, delivered a presentation on how CHWs can be involved in spreading awareness and advocating for strengthening their presence across the state. We are pleased to see the momentum growing to create healthier, thriving communities across Georgia and beyond! Interested in learning more about CHWS and advocacy initiatives?

Find out more here

Civic Advocacy, Leadership and Engagement Trainings are in Full Force!

It has been three years since the launch of our Civic Advocacy, Leadership, and Engagement train-the-trainer series, which continues to motivate and empower community members across the state. This month we conducted two in-person training sessions with the Refugee Women's Network and constituents of Representative Mandisha Thomas of District 65. Created in collaboration with our Community Voices for Health - Georgia (CVHG) partners, the training arms community members to engage in effective grassroots advocacy. Participants are equipped with working knowledge of best practices and resources to mobilize their communities around policy issues. Recently, we have added two new modules to our training sessions focusing on immigrant health rights and maternal and child health in Georgia.  If you want to host a training for your group/organization, click the button below to get started.

Register here

Black Voters Matter Hosts Southwest Regional Retreat

Georgia Watch attended the Black Voters Matter Fund retreat in Albany, GA. Natasha Taylor spoke about consumer issues impacting rural communities and how to effectively advocate for systemic change. Various speakers and workshop presenters added to the conversation to help educate and uplift attendees.

Join the Georgia Watch Team

Georgia Watch is seeking a confident and passionate professional to serve as Program Manager to work alongside other staff to develop and support Georgia Watch’s consumer education and advocacy work in Health Access, Consumer Energy, Financial Protection and Access to Civil Justice. If you are interested in applying, please send your resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to Natasha Taylor at ntaylor@georgiawatch.org. Read more about the Program Manager position HERE.

In The News

New Georgia law seeks to curb surprise billing in telehealth Cost controversies still inflame critics of plant vogtle expansions as kilowatts go online Georgia Power customers concerned about another rate increase Georgia nuclear rebirth arrives 7 years late; $17 billion over cost

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