Georgia Public Policy Foundation explores targeted healthcare solutions that are patient-centered, provide security for the sickest individuals, treat individuals and companies fairly under the tax code, promote personal responsibility, embrace transparency in the market, and avoid costly top-down mandates that discourage flexibility and limit options for Georgians seeking access to affordable, quality care.

Health Care

The Solution to the Medicaid-driven Budget Crisis

Healthcare costs associated with Medicaid are a common factor in state and local budget shortages. Fortunately, there is a solution that has bipartisan support and has shown to reduce utilization and overall costs.
Health Care

Direct Primary Care Providers Extend Concierge Services

Call it concierge medicine for the masses. The idea is that routine, mundane primary care should not require expensive insurance and can be cheaper without it.
Health Care

Direct Primary Care: An Innovative Alternative to Conventional Health Insurance

W‌ith new concerns over the effects of the Affordable Care Act on access to care and continued frustration with third-party reimbursement, innovative care models such as direct primary care may provide a satisfying alternative for doctors and patients.
Criminal Justice, Education, Environment, Government Accountability, Health Care, Legal System, Taxes and Spending, Transportation

Still Asking for Whom Georgia’s Roads are Tolled?

Automobiles heading north in the toll lanes along I-75 encountered no delays on April 27, while traffic in the general-purpose lanes crawled for miles because of construction delays.

By Benita M. Dodd

The toll lanes are coming! The toll lanes are…

Criminal Justice, Education, Environment, Government Accountability, Health Care, Legal System, Taxes and Spending, Transportation

AEI Brief: The Evolution of Career and Technical Education

A new paper by Nat Malkus of the American Enterprise Institute examines “The evolution of career and technical education: 1982–2013.”

Key Points

As vocational education has evolved into career and technical education (CTE) over the past several decades, it has progressed away…
Health Care

Heartland Institute Urges Georgia to Address CON Reform

Georgia is one of 35 states that institute certificate of need (CON) laws. First passed in the 1960s to deter increasing health care costs, CON laws were supposed to limit duplication and promote health care consolidation. In essence, CON programs require health care providers to receive state approval to increase facilities and services.
Health Care

Foundation President Kyle Wingfield Testifies on Waivers at Senate Health Committee Hearing

Kyle Wingfield, president of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, accepted an invitation to testify before the Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee on February 19, 2019, regarding health-care waivers as senators considered SB 106.  His prepared testimony is printed…

Health Care

Plan to Seek Waivers a Healthy Dose of Reality for Georgia

Bureaucratic arcana from Washington, D.C., hit Georgia’s headlines this week. Governor Brian Kemp announced he will seek federal “waivers” to improve health care in the state.
Education, Government Accountability, Health Care

2019: Continue a Course of Bold Policies

A new governor, a new lieutenant governor, a host of new committee chairs – there are numerous reasons the 2019 legislative session is full of intrigue. Add to them Georgia’s growing political competitiveness, the possibility of a national recession sooner rather than later, and some truly important challenges, and there should be plenty of urgency, too.
Education, Government Accountability, Health Care

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Publishes Foundation Op-Ed on Legislature 2019

A new governor, a new lieutenant governor, a host of new committee chairs – there are numerous reasons the 2019 legislative session is full of intrigue. Add to them Georgia’s growing political competitiveness, the possibility of a national recession sooner rather than later, and some truly important challenges, and there should be plenty of urgency, too.
Health Care

‘Medicare for All’ is Popular Until You Explain How it Works

A new poll shows that a clear majority of Americans support Medicare for All – until they are told what it is and how it would work.
Health Care, Poverty

Medicaid Work Requirements Could Help the Poor

More than 12 million nondisabled, working-age Americans are enrolled in Medicaid. They receive medical care that is virtually free, and in most states they are under no obligation to work or seek work.
Health Care

Foundation’s Kyle Wingfield Testifies on Health Care at Rural Development Council

Georgia Public Policy Foundation CEO Kyle Wingfield testified about health care opportunities for Georgia before the House Rural Development Council at its December 4, 2018, meeting in Dahlonega. View his presentation, beginning at the 4:01:00 mark, here: https://livestream.com/accounts/25225474/events/7618751/videos/184370579. View the slides from…
Health Care, Poverty

A Good Samaritan Clinic Dedicates Care to Low-Income Patients

As Executive Director Greg Lang (top left) poses for a group photograph at Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett, a sign behind the group says it all: “This clinic employs physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants…

Health Care

Solving the Problem of Guaranteed Issue and Pre-existing Conditions

The purpose of most insurance is to purchase protection before the onset of a problem. Health insurance is different. Pre-existing conditions are prevalent. Some are born thus; many acquire chronic conditions and others deal with the normal disabilities of aging.
Health Care

Medicaid Expansion, ‘Free’ Money That Costs a Lot

Under the Affordable Care Act’s provisions for Medicaid expansion, virtually anyone with annual earnings at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level is eligible. What is left unsaid is that it is anybody’s guess what options are available to a Medicaid recipient whose income rises to 139 percent of the qualifying level.
Criminal Justice, Economy, Education, Health Care, Regulation Reform

2018 Forum Focuses on Georgia’s Imminent Challenges

Policy experts take on education, health care, criminal justice and pensions.
Health Care

New Rule Creates New Opportunities for Health Insurance

By Joey Costa

Joey Costa

A new rule from the U.S. Department of Labor will allow more small employers and self-employed individuals to join forces to create Association Health Plans, providing consumers more choice and even some control over their…

Health Care

Release the Health-Care Market

By Kyle Wingfield

The contract dispute between Piedmont Healthcare and Blue Cross and Blue Shield appears to be over: The two parties this past week confirmed a “handshake deal” at the urging of Gov. Nathan Deal.

Georgians who seek care via both…

Criminal Justice, Education, Health Care, Taxes and Spending, Transportation

Winners and Losers in Georgia’s 2017-18 Session

The good, the bad, the ugly of the 2017-18 legislative session.