Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings

This is a suggestion in the Georgia House of Representatives to help make sure that people of color get better healthcare and have fewer long-term sicknesses.

• People of Color: A term for people who are not white, including Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American people.

This resolution: 

• Supports setting up a group of state leaders to work together to boost chronic disease Info and checks in Communities of Color.

  • Communities of Color: Neighborhoods or groups where many people of color live or gather.

• Explains: 

  • Differences in health results after getting care are a big cost for the state and can mostly be avoided.

  • Long-term sicknesses need different doctors, nurses, and health services to work together to make sure a person gets the right care at the right time without confusion or delays.

  • Folks with long term sicknesses and their families have big money, healthcare, and social struggles.

  • Keeping up well-being and managing health is super important for communities with higher risks of having health problems.

  • Figuring out what’s stopping people from getting info and checks for long-term sickness is key to breaking those barriers.

  • Minority groups have been hit harder by COVID-19 and other health crises, including ones that haven’t happened yet.

    • Minority groups: Smaller groups of people who may have different backgrounds, cultures, or races than the rest of the people they are around.

  • The Center for Disease Control (CDC) points out that social and money gaps create health differences in communities of color.

  • COVID-19 death rates were higher among Black/African-American and Hispanic/Latino people.

  • People in rural areas struggle with getting the health information and checks they need.

    • Rural areas: Small towns or countryside where there are fewer people, schools, and hospitals than in big cities.

If this resolution passes, the workgroup: 

• Will be led by the State Office of Rural Health and the Office of Minority Health, which are Government offices that help make sure people in small towns and people of color get good healthcare.

• Will focus on rolling out projects for chronic sickness info and checks, including options to do it over video calls.

• Involves planning a program for sharing chronic sickness info while giving shots to protect people against sickness.

• Will invite all kinds of people in Georgia.

• Will have specific roles within the group.

• Will report back to the House of Representatives, Senate, and Governor within nine months of getting started.

  • Senate: Another group of elected leaders who work with the House of Representatives to make state laws

  • Governor: The leader of the state who signs new laws and makes important decisions for Georgia.

The Clerk of the House of Representatives will send copies of this suggestion to departments that need to see it.

• The Clerk of the House of Representatives: The person who keeps records of what happens in the House of Representatives and helps organize meetings and laws.