2024 Georgia Legislative Summary

2024 Georgia Legislative Session Summary

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Georgia residents impacted by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2024 the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) worked with the Georgia General Assembly on legislative and regulatory efforts that provide affordable, adequate access to health insurance including Medicaid, ensure adequate funding for lifesaving cancer screening and prevention programs, and enact prevention policies to protect kids from tobacco products and help support those who are trying to quit.

Ensuring Access to Quality Care

• Medicaid Expansion: ACS CAN advocated for low-income individuals and families to have access to comprehensive health insurance coverage and non-emergent medical transportation services through state Medicaid programs. We supported a bill creates the Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission. This Commission is tasked with reviewing affordable, accessible healthcare in the state of Georgia and that included expanding Medicaid. ACS CAN will continue to advocate for full Medicaid expansion with eligibility up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
• Affordable, Adequate Health Insurance: ACS CAN will advocate for policies that ensure access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health insurance including Medicaid and will support efforts to curb the availability of inadequate health plans.

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

• Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN advocated to maintain funding of $3.3 million for the Georgia Breast and Cervical cancer screening program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women administered by the Georgia Department of Public Health. The Department of Public Health received an additional $796,000 for community outreach to share the program within targeted communities.
• Lung Cancer: ACS CAN continues to partner with the American Cancer Society on the Lung Cancer Roundtable. Members of the Roundtable attended a proclamation signing with the Governor and were able to talk about the importance of lung cancer screening.

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco

• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: ACS CAN maintained $2.1 funding for fact-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
• Smoke-free Air: ACS CAN worked to expand the number of Georgians covered under a comprehensive smoke-free law focuses on local communities and protecting local communities from exemptions that would jeopardize existing law.

--- For more information, contact:  Fabienne Antoine-Nasser, Government Relations Director ACS CAN [email protected]

ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer.