Hear Georgia NOW

Category: Health

  • Midwives sue Georgia over restrictive laws limiting maternity care access

    Midwives sue Georgia over restrictive laws limiting maternity care access

    Midwives sue Georgia over restrictive laws limiting maternity care access

    Georgia and some of the most restrictive midwifery laws in the nation, and so a coalition of midwives has filed a lawsuit to challenge them.

    The lawsuit was filed in Fulton County Superior Court on April 2 and alleges that Georgia’s law contributes to gaps in access to maternity care, according to WABE.

    Tamara Taitt, the director of the Atlanta Birth Center, is a midwife and a plaintiff in the lawsuit. She said certain restrictions are unnecessary, such as the requirement that Certified Nurse Midwives operate under a doctor’s supervision.

    “We could employ more midwives and serve more families. Instead, Georgia is choosing to leave skilled and committed workforce on the sidelines even as communities struggle to access care,” Taitt said.

    Georgia received an F grade for its preterm birth rate in the March of Dimes’ 2025 Report Card, which placed the state among the lowest-ranked for maternal and infant health in the country.

    Georgia has three freestanding birth centers that offer midwife care, and a fourth closed its doors recently in Savannah citing financial issues.

    “Birth centers are really facing challenges around reimbursement, like inadequate reimbursement from insurance,” Taitt said. “And 97% of our clients either have Medicaid or private insurance as their source of payment and so inadequate insurance reimbursement for the quality of care that we provide, which is something that all reproductive health care providers face, really strains our high-touch model because we spend more time with our patients and so the birth center is ever in a fight for its survival.”

    State Rep. Park Cannon, who is also a trained doula, supported House Bill 520, which was introduced in 2025 and would have loosened the restrictions on midwives.

    “This bill did not come up for consideration, nor was it passed. So today, the midwives have launched their lawsuit in the Fulton County Superior Court to demand access to equitable employment opportunities in Georgia,” Cannon said.

  • UnitedHealthcare expands doula coverage, boosting maternal health efforts

    UnitedHealthcare expands doula coverage, boosting maternal health efforts

    UnitedHealthcare expands doula coverage, boosting maternal health efforts

    UnitedHealthcare recently announced a change in their healthcare plans that cover doula care.

    The health insurance provider now offers employer-sponsored plans that cover doula services similar to Cigna and Elevance Health that have also expanded coverage.

    Sekesa Berry, founder and executive director of the Georgia Black Doula Network, said this will encourage hospitals and nonprofits to provide the service option.

    “It’s exciting,” she said, “and truthfully, I believe it’s going to create more sustainability in the work. One of the greatest hurdles for doulas is the entrepreneurial capacity because so few places actually hire doulas. So I think this opportunity to receive insurance coverage is going to help them sustain their practice.”

    Dr. Lisa Saul, chief medical director for women’s health at UnitedHealthcare, said with the U.S. having the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, the change in their coverage will hopefully improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Research shows that doula support can help reduce complications.

    “With the United States having the highest maternal mortality rate, as well as maternal morbidity rate, among high-income countries,” she said, “we know that most of these deaths and most of these scenarios are considered to be preventable.”

    Berry started her organization to help address Georgia’s maternal health crisis. Her group has trained dozens of doulas, but she said that many new doulas burn out because they can’t make a sustainable living. She said she hopes the insurance coverage can help change that.

    The Georgia Black Doula Network is accepting applications for its third doula training cohort through May 1.

  • UCB to invest $2B in Gwinnett biologics facility, creating 330 jobs

    UCB to invest $2B in Gwinnett biologics facility, creating 330 jobs

    UCB to invest $2B in Gwinnett biologics facility, creating 330 jobs

    The first pharmaceutical biologics manufacturing facility in the U.S. is coming to Georgia.

    UCB, Inc., a giant biopharmaceutical company based in Belgium, is planning to invest $2 billion to bring the facility to Gwinnett County at the Rowen Foundation’s science and learning campus creating 330 new jobs.

    “When we met with UCB leadership earlier this year in Belgium, we discussed how the Peach State would be the right partner for their visionary plans in the U.S. that will benefit both patients and hardworking Georgians,” said Gov. Brian Kemp in a news release. “UCB’s announcement is also a significant milestone for our life sciences industry, representing one of the largest investments in state history and establishing both the Rowen facility and Georgia as a true hub of innovation in this field.”

    The company already has its North American headquarters in Smyrna, which supports more than 400 jobs. The new facility will serve as the anchor tenant for the 2,000-acre planned community by the Rowen Foundation.

    “This decision reflects our confidence in UCB’s long-term growth and our deep-rooted commitment to the United States,” said Jean-Christophe Tellier, CEO of UCB, in the news release. “By investing in Georgia, where our U.S. headquarters have been based for more than three decades, we are strengthening our biologics manufacturing capabilities, supporting our innovation pipeline, and creating high-quality jobs in a state that offers outstanding talent, a strong manufacturing tradition, and an ecosystem designed for sustainable, long-term success.”

    Tellier said in the release that the project will generate around $5 billion in total economic impact.

  • Grady plans $1B South Fulton campus, announces CEO transition

    Grady plans $1B South Fulton campus, announces CEO transition

    Grady plans $1B South Fulton campus, announces CEO transition

    Grady Health System, a major healthcare provider in the Metro Atlanta area, announced a substantial change in leadership last week and plans for a new medical center campus.

    The new campus will be in South Fulton County and will open in phases starting with a medical office building and followed by an acute care hospital, according to the news release.

    “At Grady, world-class care extends far beyond our hospital walls,” said John Haupert, President and CEO at Grady, in the news release. “For generations, we have been a cornerstone of Atlanta’s health care system by strengthening the region’s infrastructure, advancing economic stability, and empowering communities to not just survive, but thrive.”

    The medical office building will offer imaging services, a surgery center, pharmacy services, rehabilitation, and other services. The acute care hospital will have 200 beds, and the hospital is hoped to serve as a Level 3 verified trauma center.

    The medical office building is scheduled to open in early 2028 while the acute care hospital is planned to open in 2031. There is a freestanding emergency department currently being built at the site. It will open in June 2026 and will be incorporated into the new hospital. The project is expected to cost more than $1 billion.

    “We are proud of this latest partnership with Grady,” said Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts in the release. “South Fulton County is both a rapidly growing community and a recognized health care desert. For the people of South Fulton, improved access to health care is not a luxury, it is a necessity. No longer will families be forced to travel long distances or lose critical time seeking emergency or basic medical services. Closing this gap will save lives.”

    In addition, the health system announced that current President and CEO John Haupert will be retiring, and Grady’s current COO Anthony Saul will be taking over on Jan. 1, 2027.

    “As Grady prepares for the future, Anthony is the right leader at the right time,” said Larry Gellerstedt, chair of the Board of Directors of Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation, in the news release. “He understands the complexity of our mission, the importance of operational excellence, and the responsibility we have to the communities we serve.”

  • Glytec relocating HQ to Cobb County, bringing 500 new jobs

    Glytec relocating HQ to Cobb County, bringing 500 new jobs

    Glytec relocating HQ to Cobb County, bringing 500 new jobs

    A major health technology company is relocating its headquarters to Cobb County bringing with it 500 new jobs.

    Gov. Brian Kemp announced that Glytec will have its new global headquarters at 2300 Windy Ridge Parkway near Cumberland.

    “Georgia’s skilled workforce and business-friendly approach have fostered success for global healthcare technologies like Glytec, making the Peach State an international hub of innovation and growth in this field,” Kemp said in a news release. “This particular project will add high-paying jobs in Cobb County while serving as another reminder of Georgia’s status as the No. 1 state for business.”

    The company was founded in Georgia and has quickly grown to be a global leader in software and related services to manage insulin dosing for diabetic patients.

    “Glytec started with a Georgia physician who realized there was a better way to manage inpatient diabetes care, and we wouldn’t be any more excited to come home,” Glytec CEO Patrick Cua said in the release. 

    Glytec has been recognized as being the best diabetes management platform in 2025 by Healthcare Tech Outlook and by KLAS First Look for improving inpatient glycemic management.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Glytec, an innovative leader in healthcare IT, to our business community,” Sharon Mason, president and CEO of the Cobb Chamber, said in the release. “This relocation reflects the strength of Cobb County and Georgia’s business ecosystem and our ability to attract high-growth companies shaping the future of healthcare technology. The addition of 500 high-quality jobs will create new opportunities for our residents while driving continued investment in our local economy.”

  • CDC layoffs still rippling through Atlanta a year later

    CDC layoffs still rippling through Atlanta a year later

    CDC layoffs still rippling through Atlanta a year later

    It has been over a year since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experienced its first blow of mass layoffs, and Atlanta is still feeling the effects. 

    The Atlanta-based public health agency has suffered roughly 3,000 employees from layoffs and early retirements since President Donald Trump took office, according to WABE.

    Sarah Boim, who lost her job at the CDC, told WABE that the impact of these mass firings will be substantial for years to come.

    “In terms of health, it will cause generational harm, which always makes me tear up,” Boim said. “The harm that’s going to come to people that don’t even know what CDC was protecting them from.”

    The surrounding businesses have also been impacted by the decrease in workers going to the CDC each day. Sri Thai restaurant is located across the street from the CDC campus in DeKalb County.

    Nathan Chanthavong told WABE that the restaurant has seen less business since the layoffs and the government shutdown.

    “Typically, we would get a catering order for the CDC. We saw it less, less and less. It’s not a really big impact, but catering is a big order, it is a lot of money,” he said, “so it does affect us.”

    Former CDC workers gather outside of the main entrance every Tuesday since the firings began to protest the administration’s actions.

    “It’s been heartbreaking to see so many talented, able colleagues be forced out or leave,” Ben McKenzie told WABE.

    For six months, the CDC has been without a permanent director with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya serving as the acting director while also serving as the director of the National Institutes of Health.

  • Georgia House passes bill expanding medical cannabis program, adding conditions

    Georgia House passes bill expanding medical cannabis program, adding conditions

    Georgia House passes bill expanding medical cannabis program, adding conditions

    A bill passed the state House Thursday that will change laws around the state’s medical cannabis program.

    Senate Bill 220, or the Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act, passed 138 to 21 and is headed back to the state Senate for a vote on the changes.

    The law would rename the program from “low-THC oil” to “medical cannabis,” allow an inhalation option to the medication, prohibit public use and change restrictions around dosing from percent of THC to milligrams, according to GPB News.

    “This isn’t about legalizing recreational marijuana, even though the federal government has now moved it from a Schedule I to a Schedule III at the bottom of the hill,” said state Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell. “This is about helping people, and I hear questions when people talk about adding these illnesses onto this list… When people are hurting, they need relief.”

    The bill also adds new medical conditions to the list, such as lupus and severe insomnia. The program was created in 2015 when the state first passed the legislation.

    Although the bill received positive feedback from most lawmakers, a Republican lawmaker said she was threatened regarding the bill.

    “Earlier this week, I received an email threatening me that if I voted yes on this bill, I would be dinged on a legislative scorecard,” said state Rep. Beth Camp, R-Concord. “As I read that email, frankly, it made me quite mad, and a performance appraisal from a lobbying organization that did not elect me, attempting to tell me how to legislate, is not how I operate. My constituents sent me here to critically think, to evaluate the facts, and make the best decisions possible for the people I represent.”

  • More than 7,000 Georgians wait years for Medicaid disability waivers, families plead

    More than 7,000 Georgians wait years for Medicaid disability waivers, families plead

    More than 7,000 Georgians wait years for Medicaid disability waivers, families plead

    More than 7,000 Georgians are on the waitlist for Medicaid-funded New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP), which provide funds to help those living with disabilities.

    The funds help cover services, such as nutrition services, the cost of therapy and employment support.

    Earlice Acey told GPB News that a COMP waiver could allow her 23-year-old daughter Trinity to live a full life.

    “Her having a COMP waiver would allow her to go to school, to be able to have transportation,” she said. “She deserves to have these opportunities.”

    Acey said they have been on the waitlist for 11 years. The waivers are administered through the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and increasing funding for the program has not been a priority.

    Funds were included in the 2025 fiscal year budget to make permanent 500 waiver slots, and the current 2027 state budget includes funding for 150 new NOW/COMP slots and 100 annual waiver slots.

    D’Arcy Robb, the executive director of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, told GPB that people living with disabilities and seniors are in urgent need of these services. Around 1,200 Georgians are in urgent need of this care.

    “It is very common for us to hear from parents that they’ve had to leave their jobs, and it put the family in economic peril,” Robb said. “We have Georgians who are dropped off in emergency rooms. We have Georgians who are homeless.”

  • Wellroot expands mental health services for Georgia foster youth

    Wellroot expands mental health services for Georgia foster youth

    Wellroot expands mental health services for Georgia foster youth

    Wellroot Family Services has expanded its behavioral healthcare services to provide mental health support for more children and families in Georgia.

    The nonprofit provides foster care, family resiliency counseling, transitional and independent living for young adults, family housing and kinship care.

    “We know that when a child is in a trauma-informed environment, and believes that they’re safe, believes that there’s someone listening to them, believes there’s something they can talk to — It’s basically a vaccine for future trauma,” Christina Lennon, chief strategy and innovation officer at Wellroot Family Services, told Georgia Public Broadcasting.

    Wellroot Family Services is now a Core 2 Medicaid provider, which allows them to provide critical mental health support to clients.

    The nonprofit recently opened a new property in DeKalb County to help foster kids transition to adult life by giving them resources and a place to live.

    Allison Ashe is the president and CEO of Wellroot. She told 11Alive that it’s up to the community to support these young people with the Division of Family and Children Services facing an $85 million deficit.

    “Young people who have experienced the foster care system are much more likely to experience homelessness, they’re much more likely to experience incarceration or teen pregnancy,” Ashe said. “If the state doesn’t provide the resources for those types of programs, then young people sort of fall off a cliff once they turn 18 years old.”

    The new housing opened in the Oakhurst neighborhood, and the program helps young people learn how to live independently.

    “They’re taught life skills on everything from budgeting and finance to how to do their laundry to how to cook,” Ashe said. “They’re supported in finishing high school, getting into college, and they’re also provided critical mental health and counseling.”

  • Georgia Senate sets aside $409M for new state mental hospital

    Georgia Senate sets aside $409M for new state mental hospital

    Georgia Senate sets aside $409M for new state mental hospital

    The Georgia Senate allocated $409 million in its amended budget to build a state mental health hospital, which would be the first since the 1960s.

    State Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, said in a budget hearing Feb. 18 that the state’s police chiefs and sheriffs feel like their jails have become the mental health institutions for the state.

    “The Senate does not want to wait,” he said. “We’re asking you to invest almost half a billion dollars, $409 million, to support those sheriffs, to support those police chiefs and to get this problem resolved.”

    The 300-bed facility is tentatively planned to be built around Atlanta or Augusta and could take one to two years to build if approved, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting.

    Tillery explained the reason the state has not been able to take such measures in the past citing a 2010 settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over the state’s historic treatment of mentally ill people.

    In January, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities announced a joint filing to be released from all behavioral health provisions of the settlement, which will allow the building of the hospital.

    “We’ve worked really hard to provide those services and communities,” Sen. Blake Tillery said on Friday while presenting the proposal to the public. “We’ve done a pretty good job. But there are some people who we still need to have in the state’s mental health hospitals.”