The Watcher  News from Georgia Watch

July 2022

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Mark your calendar to join us on Thursday, October 27, 2022, for an evening to commemorate Georgia Watch's 20 years as the trusted and relentless advocate for Georgia consumers! Stay tuned for details. For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Liz Coyle at lcoyle@georgiawatch.org.

Reflecting on the Community Benefit and Economic Stability (CBES) Project

Since 2021, Georgia Watch, Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF), and SOWEGA Rising have worked to protect consumers in Southwest Georgia from unaffordable medical bills and debt through the Community Benefit and Economic Stability - Georgia (CBES-GA) project with support from leading health advocacy organization, Community Catalyst. Southwest Georgia experiences medical debt at a higher rate than the rest of Georgia and the country, particularly in communities of color. Southwest Georgia also has some of the highest insurance premiums in the country due primarily to the lack of competition among providers and insurers. This level of consolidation leaves consumers with little choice about where to seek care and incentivizes predatory medical billing practices. In Dougherty County, 25% of black residents have a medical bill in collections, compared to 21% in Georgia and 17% nationally (Urban Institute, 2020), creating significant barriers to care and trapping already cash-strapped Georgians into a cycle of poverty.  Leveraging the policy expertise of Georgia Watch and GHF, as well as the local knowledge and community trust of SOWEGA Rising, the CBES-GA team has aimed to protect consumers in Southwest Georgia from unaffordable medical bills and debts so that all Georgians can afford the care they need. While this phase of the project is winding down, our work ensuring all Georgians have access to quality, affordable healthcare is nowhere near finished. Click below to read about what we have accomplished and how we are continuing the work.

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Georgia Watch is proud to celebrate 20 years as the state's leading consumer advocacy organization! Looking back on all we have accomplished, we recognize we could not have done it without you. Thank you for your steadfast support! We pledge to remain a powerful voice ensuring equity and justice for all Georgia consumers. Has Georgia Watch made a difference in your life? Help us gear up for our 20th Anniversary Celebration by sharing your story!

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