AGP Executive Report

Child Nutrition: Georgia has received a federal grant for a new childhood nutrition program. Insurance Costs: More than 500,000 Georgians have dropped health coverage, while Atlanta residents who kept insurance face another 20% price increase, according to recent reports. Cancer Care: Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is expanding services across Georgia. Hospital Affordability: Georgia ranks first for hospital prices, but 47th for residents’ ability to afford care.

Cancer Care: Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is expanding services across Georgia, potentially bringing specialized care to more communities. Water Safety: An Atlanta water-main break left more than 100,000 residents under a boil-water advisory. Coverage Costs: More than 500,000 Georgians have dropped health insurance, while ACA premiums for Atlanta residents who remain covered are expected to rise about 20%. Infectious Disease: Health officials reported measles in an unvaccinated Macon resident. Ride Safety: A fatal fall at Six Flags Over Georgia prompted state inspections and coaster closures at parks across the country. Weight-Loss Drug Risks: Reports say an unapproved weight-loss drug is thriving on Georgia’s black market.

Insurance Costs: More than 500,000 Georgians have dropped health coverage, while Atlanta residents who kept Affordable Care Act plans face another 20% price increase, according to a recent report. Cancer Care: Northside Hospital Cancer Institute says its statewide network now includes more than 55 locations, offering oncology, radiation, infusion services and clinical trials. Food Safety: Starfish Seafood’s frozen smoked Norwegian salmon has been recalled over possible Listeria contamination; the product was distributed in Georgia and five other states. Water Safety: A water main break in Atlanta recently prompted a boil-water notice affecting more than 100,000 residents.

Insurance Costs: Georgia ACA premiums are set to jump next year, with some rates rising as much as 29% and average monthly costs approaching $932. Open enrollment starts Nov. 1; doctors warn some patients may drop coverage. Children’s Health: Georgia Tech and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are developing an AI warning tool to spot hospitalized children at risk of sudden decline and help clinicians intervene sooner. Measles: Georgia has reported its 22nd case of 2026, in an unvaccinated Macon County resident who had contact with a Pennsylvania patient. Public Safety: Four children were injured in the fatal Six Flags Over Georgia roller-coaster incident; the park has reopened after inspections. Mental Health: A new report says Georgia high school girls are doing well academically but struggling with loneliness.

Measles Watch: Georgia has logged its 22nd measles case of 2026, in an unvaccinated Macon County resident who had contact with a Pennsylvania patient. Coverage Costs: The average monthly Affordable Care Act premium in Georgia is projected to reach $932 next year, adding pressure for residents shopping for coverage. Child Safety: An investigation found about 350 Georgia daycares kept Quality Rated stars after citations for harming or endangering children, raising questions about what families can learn from ratings. Care Behind Bars: Detainees at Folkston’s ICE facility are on hunger strike over reported poor medical care, crowded conditions and unsafe drinking water; ICE says 13 people are participating, while families say the number may be much higher. Hospital Affordability: Georgia ranks first for hospital prices but 47th for residents’ ability to afford care. Health Policy: Healthcare was a point of debate among candidates for Georgia lieutenant governor, as the state’s health care crisis remains a campaign issue.

Hemp Products: A federal THC cap expected to take effect Dec. 11 could force Georgia retailers to pull some hemp-derived drinks, gummies and oils from shelves. Insurance Costs: Georgia’s 2027 marketplace premiums will rise 11% to 29%; the average is set to reach nearly $932 a month, before subsidies. Measles: Georgia has recorded its 22nd case this year, in an unvaccinated Macon County resident who had contact with a Pennsylvania case. Unvaccinated close contacts are quarantining as health officials trace possible exposure. Breast Cancer: Georgia’s age-adjusted death rate was 21 per 100,000 women in 2024, with 1,482 deaths, according to CDC data. The figures come as survivors and supporters gather for Atlanta’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Children’s Online Safety: A federal appeals court cleared Georgia’s social media law to take effect. It requires platforms to make efforts to verify users’ ages and get parental consent for accounts held by children under 16; the state argued the rules address mental health risks. Measles: Georgia’s Department of Public Health confirmed a new case and urged vaccination. Healthcare Costs: Georgia ranks first for hospital prices, while residents rank 47th in ability to afford care, according to a new report. Weight-Loss Drugs: A report says an unapproved weight-loss drug is thriving on Georgia’s black market, raising concerns about access to unregulated products. Child Care Safety: An AJC investigation found about 350 Georgia daycares kept their Quality Rated stars after citations for harming or endangering children, prompting renewed questions about what parents should check.

Unapproved Weight-Loss Drugs: Georgia wellness clinics are openly offering knockoff retatrutide, an experimental drug not approved by the FDA; regulators have yet to stop the sales. Migraine Research: A Newnan clinic has implanted the first U.S. patient in a pivotal trial of an investigational device for adults with resistant migraine. Ride Safety: Six Flags Over Georgia plans to reopen, but Goliath remains closed as officials investigate the fatal fall that also injured four young riders. Care Access: A warning about Georgia’s looming physician shortage comes as Medicaid work requirements are set to begin Jan. 1, with enrollees urged to prepare. Measles: Georgia’s case count has reached 22 this year after an unvaccinated Macon County resident tested positive.

Measles: Georgia’s Department of Public Health confirmed another case, bringing the state’s 2026 total to 22. The Macon County resident was unvaccinated, and officials urged people to get vaccinated. Ride Safety: After a 42-year-old man died on Six Flags Over Georgia’s Goliath coaster, four injured child riders were reported to have non-life-threatening injuries. Similar coasters were closed at parks across the country as the investigation continues. Medicaid: New work requirements take effect Jan. 1. Enrollees should prepare now to avoid losing coverage. Student Mental Health: Spelman College opened a Hope Booth offering students round-the-clock mental health support. Rural Care: A federal award of $3.735 million aims to strengthen reliable health care in rural Georgia, especially during disasters. Emergency Response: A rural hospital had just seven medical workers on duty when dozens of people poured in after a homecoming mass shooting in Vienna, underscoring the strain on small emergency departments.

Ride Safety: After a man died and four others were injured on Six Flags Over Georgia’s Goliath coaster, state inspectors are examining the ride; Six Flags has temporarily closed nine similar coasters at other parks. Measles: Georgia confirmed another case in an unvaccinated Macon resident, bringing the state’s total this year to 22. Health officials are urging vaccination. Campus Mental Health: Spelman College now offers students free, 24/7 mental health support through a kiosk installed by Atlanta nonprofit Hope Booth and L’Oréal Paris. Medicare: Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Georgia beneficiaries should review plans, as drug deductibles and out-of-pocket limits are set to rise.

Measles Alert: Georgia confirmed a new case in an unvaccinated Macon County resident, bringing this year’s total to 22—more than double 2025’s 10. The resident is isolating at home, and unvaccinated close contacts are quarantining. DPH urges vaccination; two MMR doses offer about 97% protection. Amusement-Park Safety: A 42-year-old Atlanta man died after being ejected from Six Flags Over Georgia’s Goliath coaster, and four other riders were injured. The park has closed nine similar rides nationwide while Georgia authorities investigate. Health Care on the Ballot: As early voting begins, Georgia candidates are addressing physician and nurse shortages and Medicaid funding. Voters interviewed in Macon-Bibb also named health care among their priorities. Youth Mental Health: A new Georgia report finds high school girls are succeeding academically while facing mental health struggles.

Theme-Park Safety: One person died and four were injured in an incident at Six Flags Over Georgia; the company closed nine similar coasters across six parks as investigators work to determine what happened. Child Care: An Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation found Georgia daycares kept quality ratings despite serious incidents, including a child burned by bleach. Care for Vulnerable Adults: Georgia’s attorney general indicted a Savannah group-home manager on neglect charges, alleging residents were left outside without proper protection and injuries went untreated. Community Health: Atlanta’s child opportunity score rose from 39 to 60 between 2012 and 2023, though neighborhood gains remain uneven. Youth Mental Health: A new report finds Georgia high school girls excel academically but face mental health struggles. Maternity Care: Medicaid cuts are putting maternity services at risk as hospitals close labor and delivery units.

Georgia’s Health-Care Crisis: The governor’s candidates have answered questions about workforce shortages and poor health outcomes. Georgia ranks near the bottom for doctors and nurses per capita, and health care is a top-three issue for voters. Girls’ Mental Health: A statewide report finds two-thirds of Georgia high school girls lack a trusted adult to talk to, more than half report monthly depression symptoms, and many families seeking treatment cannot get care. Rural Care: Colquitt Regional Health System is expanding specialty services and medical training in Moultrie, aiming to keep more advanced care close to home. Coverage and Maternity Care: Medicaid cuts could put maternity services at risk as hospitals close labor-and-delivery units; Georgia lieutenant governor candidate Josh McLaurin says he would expand Medicaid.

Child Safety: A 7-month-old girl died after a Georgia State Patrol pursuit ended in a 10-vehicle crash on I-20 near Atlanta; the fleeing driver also died. Rural Care: Rural Georgia faces a growing uninsured population as premiums have doubled or tripled for some residents, straining hospitals and clinics. Breast Cancer: Two Georgia mothers diagnosed in their early 30s turned their friendship during treatment into “Boobie Banter,” a podcast sharing their experiences; other local women describe facing diagnoses before 40 while raising families and working. Behavioral Health: Construction has begun on a 40-bed behavioral health facility in Augusta, adding capacity in a state with limited access to mental health care.

I-20 Crash: A 7-month-old girl died and her two infant companions were hospitalized after a high-speed pursuit ended in a 10-vehicle crash in DeKalb County. The fleeing driver also died. Water Safety: A boil-water advisory remains in effect for parts of Canton after a water-main break; residents affected by pressure loss should boil water for drinking and food preparation until officials lift the advisory. Maternity Care: Medicaid cuts are raising concerns about access to maternity care as hospitals close labor-and-delivery units, a risk for Georgia communities already facing gaps in care. Mental Health: Georgia ranks among the states with the lowest access to mental health care, while a new 40-bed behavioral health facility is planned for Augusta. West Nile: Georgia has reported 17 confirmed West Nile virus cases as mosquito season continues.

Community Support: Atlanta’s Latin American Association is aiming to raise $1 million at its Nov. 14 fundraiser. The group served 25,000 families last year, with food assistance among the most requested services. Medical Debt: MacKenzie Scott’s donations have helped erase more than $40 billion in medical debt nationwide, including bills in Georgia. Storm Safety: Hurricane Isaias brought widespread outages across the Southeast as Georgia crews prepared for storm impacts. Officials warned that running a generator indoors can cause fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. Health Coverage: Georgia’s 2027 health insurance marketplace open enrollment begins Nov. 1. More than 336,000 Georgia seniors in Humana Medicare Advantage plans also face benefit changes next year. Rural Care: Albany-area advocates are working to expand mammogram access in rural southwest Georgia, while Coweta Samaritan Clinic marked 15 years of providing care.