June 7, 2011 Many Georgia hospitals aren’t doing enough to ensure accessibility for non-English speakers, according to a report (pdf) released this week by Georgia Watch’s Hospital Accountability Project. Most hospitals throughout the state are required to...
More infoGeorgia Watch Joins National Campaign to Improve Patient Safety
April 29, 2011 In an effort to improve patient safety and reduce health care-acquired infections (HAIs), Georgia Watch is joining the national Campaign for Better Care through their Healthy Hospital Initiative. This initiative will act in support of the...
More infoHospital Markups Continue to Burden Patients
April 19, 2011 The Atlanta Journal Constitution published a troubling investigative article this weekend about the rising costs of hospital bills and the huge markups that have become routine at both nonprofit and for-profit hospitals. The piece includes a...
More infoConsumer Wrap-Up of 2011 Legislative Session
April 15, 2011 The 2011 session was another slow-moving, drawn out session that has become typical in recent years. Once again, the state is facing declining revenues, which made setting a budget a difficult process. Overall, consumer-friendly measures saw...
More infoHAP Director Holly Lang Featured on Georgia Public Broadcasting
March 30, 2011 Holly Lang, Georgia Watch’s Hospital Accountability Project Director, appeared last week on GPB’s Lawmakers to discuss current health-related state legislation, as well as the impact of the new federal healthcare law on...
More infoKeep Health Policies In-State
February 15, 2011 A recently filed bill poses a real threat to the consumer protections that exist in the Georgia market for health insurance. House Bill 47, which was introduced by Representative Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City), would permit out of state...
More infoGeorgia Health Advocates Concerned about Potential Health Care Cutbacks
January 27, 2011 We here at Georgia Watch are concerned about recent attempts by state leaders to scale back vital health care programs for our most vulnerable citizens at a time when they are critically needed. The move began with Arizona Governor...
More infoState Commission: Georgia Needs Independent Public Health Agency
December 14, 2010 Spurred by poor health indicators that show a need for Georgia to re-evaluate its public health priorities, the Public Health Commission recently concluded that an independent Department of Public Health should be formed, and its primary...
More infoGeorgia Watch Hosts Consumer Workshop in Tifton
November 18, 2010 On Tuesday, Georgia Watch partnered with Tift Regional Medical Center to host a consumer workshop entitled “Affording Hospital Care,” aiming to educate patients and their families on the best ways to manage their hospital debt. Two...
More infoTrauma Care Amendment Fails at Voting Booth
November 7, 2010 Last Tuesday, a ballot measure that would have infused an estimated $80 million into the state’s trauma network failed by a narrow margin – 53 percent to 47 percent. Passage of this measure would have dedicated funding from annual car tag...
More infoGeorgia Watch Teams Up With Tift Regional to Hold Free Consumer Workshop
November 4, 2010 Georgia Watch and Tift Regional Medical Center have joined together to sponsor “Affording Hospital Care,” a free consumer workshop to be held on Tuesday, November 16 at the Neighborhood Services Center in Tifton. The event aims to empower...
More infoAmendment 2: Why Hospitals Are Seeking Trauma Care Funding
October 20, 2010 On November 02, Georgia voters will be asked to choose whether the state constitution should be amended to require an annual $10 fee for certain motor vehicles, with an estimated $80 million in resulting revenues to go directly to fund...
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