• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Politics

Georgians Deserve More And Better Healthcare

Op-Ed: Georgians Deserve More And Better Healthcare
By Eleanor Hinton Hoytt · Updated October 23, 2020
As the retired President of the national advocacy organization, Black Women’s Health Imperative, I’ve spent most of my career focused on reducing barriers to health care access and improving health outcomes for women and communities of color. I’m very aware that the challenges we face around the country in improving access to healthcare and women’s health are significant, but they’re especially daunting here in Georgia. In fact, I would say we are in the midst of a health care crisis. For example, Georgia’s maternal mortality rate—that is, women who do not survive the process of childbirth—is amongst the highest in the country, and more black women die here during childbirth than anywhere else. Making care even more out of reach, half of our counties don’t even have an OB-GYN, and we saw an increase in the uninsured last year. The tragic outcome is women aren’t able to access the care and support they need to be healthy during pregnancy, have healthy babies, and live healthy lives. The good news is there is hope on the horizon. After hearing Stacey Abrams speak last year and looking into her comprehensive health care platform, I became convinced that she really cares and understands what is needed to fix Georgia’s healthcare system. Stacey has a vision for making Georgia a leader in the South. One of the very first things she’ll do is to work to expand Medicaid for 500,000 more Georgians who desperately need it. This is essential. Thirty-three other states have expanded Medicaid because it’s the smart thing to do, while in Georgia, our republican leadership has flat-out refused. The result? We rank amongst the lowest in the entire country in meeting many of our citizens’ health care needs. Her vision is one that transcends partisanship, income, ethnicity, race and geographic boundaries. Once Stacey is Governor and we expand Medicaid, we’ll add $8 million every day into Georgia’s economy—that is $3 billion each year. We will create more than 50,000 jobs, most of them outside of metro Atlanta. And we will give rural hospitals an influx of funding, so they can provide the best medical professionals and resources possible to give the most residents the best care possible. Stacey understands the fundamental truth that health care must always be local and that a culture of accessible quality health care in all communities, including rural, must be created and supported. When a rural hospital closes, it is often devastating to the surrounding community. Suddenly, people who are elderly, sick, or facing an emergency might need to drive over one-hour to see a doctor. Working adults may be unable to find time for a regular checkup. The companies and businesses that once considered opening in that town could go elsewhere. Brian Kemp does not have a health care plan, not for increasing health care access nor for supporting rural hospitals. Stacey will address these problems head-on, not only because she is a woman of deep integrity, with a commitment to faith and service, but also because as a tax lawyer, she specialized in hospitals and health care finance. She will implement achievable plans, such as the Georgia Premium Stability Program, for expanding and improving health care access while keeping our premiums down and avoiding spikes in the market. In just a few days on November 6, you have the chance to vote for Stacey Abrams as our Governor. Better yet, why don’t you join me and vote early until November 2! Your vote could mean that Georgia finally has a governor that focuses on issues that families care about: affordable health care, quality public education, and creating jobs with livable wages. Our families deserve and need Stacey Abrams, who will lead the way to for all of us to be healthier Georgians.
TOPICS:  stacey abrams
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now