ATLANTA (July 24, 2019) | Governor Brian P. Kemp recently selected Sen. Blake Tillery (R – Vidalia) to serve on the 40-member 1115 and 1332 Waiver Stakeholder Working Group. Their first meeting occurred Thursday, July 18, 2019.
“I am honored to be appointed by Gov. Kemp to serve as a member of this stakeholder group,” said Sen. Tillery. “Many in our district find health insurance cost-prohibitive. The folks who can afford coverage are paying two and three times the amount of their home mortgage just on premiums. That’s simply not sustainable. I am solely committed to finding innovative solutions to drive down healthcare cost for all Georgians.” Sen. Tillery added, “My appointment reflects Governor Kemp’s commitment to rural Georgia and addressing our biggest issues.”
The impetus of this stakeholder group was Senate Bill 106. Sen. Tillery guided SB 106, which allows the Georgia Department of Community Health and the Governor to request waivers to administer Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act differently in Georgia than they are administered in other states. Gov. Kemp and Sen. Tillery have frequently referred to these possible waivers as “providing Georgia solutions to Georgia problems.” You can read the full bill here.
With his work on this healthcare stakeholder group, Sen. Tillery is hosting numerous listening sessions in Senate District 19. “I want to hear your experiences of how healthcare costs have affected your families. I also want to hear your ideas on how we can do better.”
The following are the dates, locations and times of the meetings:
Appling County Meeting:
When: August 8, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Where: Appling County Courthouse Annex – Commissioners Meeting Room
69 Tippins St.
Baxley, GA 31513
Jeff Davis County Meeting
When: August 2, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Where: The Big House
25 E. Coffee St.
Hazlehurst, GA 31539
Long County Meeting
When: August 6, 2019, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Long County Public Library
270 S. Main St.
Ludowici, GA 31316
Telfair County Meeting
When: August 2, 2019, 9:00 a.m.
Where: J. Herschel Selph Public Safety Building
81 E. Oak St.
McRae-Helena, GA 31055
Toombs County Meeting
When: August 8, 2019, 9:00 a.m.
Where: Toombs-Montgomery Chamber of Commerce
2805 E. 1st St.
Vidalia, GA 30474
Wayne County Meeting
When: August 6, 2019, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Jesup Train Depot
176 NW Broad St.
Jesup, GA 31545
Sen. Tillery concluded by saying, “I still believe the people of Georgia best know how to solve Georgia’s problems. Please join me to share your healthcare cost stories and ideas on resolving this crisis so I can relay them to my colleagues.”
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For Immediate Release:
July 24, 2019
Elisabeth Fletcher, Communications Specialist
elisabeth.fletcher@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028