FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Georgia First/BRIDGE GA Contact: Anna Britt, anna@waxmanstrategies.com 540-808-6963

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Contact: Stacy Jacobson, stacy.jacobson@cancer.org 443-610-3627

Georgia First, BRIDGE Georgia, and ACS CAN Call for Policymakers to Protect Health Care Access in Georgia

Advocate and patient voices challenge harmful federal proposals to Medicaid and other health care programs and urge policymakers to consider economic implications of increasing the number of uninsured Georgians

ATLANTA, GA, May 20, 2025 — Yesterday, Georgia First, BRIDGE Georgia, and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Georgia (ACS CAN) held a press conference at Liberty Plaza, outside the state Capitol, uplifting advocate and patient voices and highlighting the current state of access to health care in Georgia, pending threats, and considerations for federal and state policymakers.

Advocates rallied outside the state Capitol as Congress is weighing various reforms that would reduce federal investment in Medicaid, a program that enrolls nearly 2 million Georgians, including one in 10 adults and two in five children in Georgia. These reforms could force vulnerable rural hospitals to close, increase the number of uninsured Georgians, raise health care premiums for everyone in the state, and place enormous pressure on the state budget, with Georgia standing to lose billions in federal funding.

“Our policymakers need to understand that when they make choices impacting Georgians’ access to health care, they are making choices about the economic future of our state,“ said Natalie Crawford, Executive Director of Georgia First and Chair of the BRIDGE Georgia healthcare coalition. “Ensuring health care access for all Georgians is not just good health policy, it’s good economic policy.”

Alton Fry, a native Georgian and hardworking small business owner who was diagnosed with cancer, spoke about the difficulty he has had accessing health care in Georgia and the medical debt he is amassing while treating his cancer. Despite meeting the work requirements for Georgia Pathways, he was denied coverage twice. After reducing the amount he works so he could qualify for traditional Medicaid, he was denied for coverage three additional times and remains uninsured.

“We are proud of the work we did in this year’s legislative session and look forward to working with lawmakers next year to finally close the coverage gap and pass PeachCare Plus to expand access to health care in Georgia,” said Fabienne Antoine-Nasser, Georgia Government Relations Director for ACS CAN. “Access to health coverage is the one of the most significant factors in determining whether someone survives a cancer diagnosis. We urge lawmakers to protect and expand access to health insurance to save more lives.”

Advocates illustrated how proposed federal reforms to Medicaid would leave more Georgians uninsured and harm the state’s economy. Conversely, economic impact data has shown that if the state were to expand Medicaid to 138% of the federal poverty level, the move would boost Georgia’s economy, spur job creation, and ensure more Georgians are able to access the health care coverage they need.

Speakers also highlighted threats to health care programs beyond Medicaid that have the potential to deeply impact Georgia. For example, the tax credits that today fully subsidize premiums for over 800,000 Georgians on Georgia Access, the state’s private insurance marketplace, are currently set to expire this year unless Congress reauthorizes them. Without that funding, even more Georgians will be at risk for becoming uninsured and the state will face greater budgetary challenges.

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About Georgia First – Georgia First is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and growing the strength and welfare of our state, her people, and our collective future. We are committed to advancing the lives of Georgians by advocating for strong fiscal policies that create a robust middle class, expanding healthcare access and affordability, and standing as a voice above the fray on democracy and elections. More information is at https://georgia1st.org/.

About BRIDGE Georgia – BRIDGE Georgia is a bipartisan healthcare healthcare coalition of over 20 organizations that advocates for closing the health insurance coverage gap for nearly 300,000 hard-working Georgians. More information is at https://bridgega.org/.

About ACS CAN – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. We engage our volunteers across the country to make their voices heard by policymakers at every level of government. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in cities, states and our nation’s capital. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.