Advocates and rural providers urge state investments in peer support, dental clinics and hospital infrastructure
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Summary
Witnesses at the appropriations hearing urged funding for peer‑based recovery supports for pregnant and postpartum women, revival of regional free dental clinics, targeted investment to counter falling PeachCare enrollment and capital help for rural hospitals expanding residency and clinical services.
Multiple witnesses during the public‑comment portion of the House appropriations subcommittee asked lawmakers to back targeted investments in rural health services, workforce retention and community programs.
Larissa Guerrero of the Georgia Council for Recovery described a peer‑support pilot for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use and mental‑health disorders, proposing referrals through WIC offices and estimating that small county pilots could run for about $100,000. Guerrero said outcomes at one Northeast Georgia hospital reduced neonatal intensive‑care lengths of stay for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome from about 37 days to five–nine days after implementing peer supports.
Janelle Adams of the Georgia Dental Association urged revival of smaller, regional “Missions of Mercy” free dental clinics to address shortages of dentists and hygienists, asking for roughly $150,000 to run multiple localized events and estimating substantial return‑on‑investment by keeping patients out of emergency rooms.
Representative Lisa Campbell (District 35) raised a separate concern about a steep decline in PeachCare enrollment reported to the committee and asked whether Gateway usability testing and outreach plans are reflected in the budget. Committee members pressed the department to provide usability testing details and to clarify whether expanded eligibility assumptions are incorporated into projections.
Jessica Rivenbark, representing a South Georgia hospital, asked for capital help to finish HVAC, air handling and generator projects after hurricane damage and described the hospital’s efforts to expand residency training and telehealth capacity.
Dr. Santos, describing Archbold Hospital’s work in Thomasville, gave several examples of local investment in graduate medical education, including a purchase of the former Thomas University campus for $8,800,000 to host training, simulation space and housing for students; he described progress in retaining graduates and plans to expand fellowships.
Next steps: Witnesses asked the committee to consider modest pilot grants and targeted capital support to shore up rural access and workforce pipelines; committee members asked agency staff to follow up with specific program utilization and projected savings.