Casey Cagle points to poverty during task force meeting in Tifton

TIFTON — Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, along with Sens. Renee Unterman, Dean Burke, Chuck Hufstetler, Ben Watson, Kay Kirkpatrick, Jack Hill and Doc Rhett, held a meeting of Georgia’s Health Care Reform Task Force at Tift Regional Medical Center Monday.

Members discussed innovative reforms to advance Georgia as a national leader in delivering patient-centered health care.

“Statewide, our poverty rate among children hovers at about 25 percent. In 40 counties – including right here in Tift County – 40 percent or more of our kids are living in poverty,” Cagle said. “It is up to us to find solutions that allow hard-working Georgians to keep more of what they earn. And as our work with the Health Care Reform Task Force continues, it will be up to us to work with issuers, providers and stakeholders in every community of our state to innovate and lower the costs of care, premiums and deductibles so that our families have access to the care we need, at a price we can all afford. ”

Tift Regional Health System President and CEO William T. Richardson said he appreciated the task force’s visit.

“We ares honored to host the Georgia Health Care Reform Task Force meeting at our main campus,” Richardson said. “We greatly appreciate this group and their resolve to tackle the current challenges facing health care in our state. Tift Regional is also proud to present to this group some of the innovative programs we have launched in order to better address common health care issues among rural Georgians.”

Task Force Member Dr. Greg Esper said, “We at Emory are pleased to participate in the discussion convened by the lieutenant governor regarding telehealth. Our faculty and administration are committed to working to advance health care for Georgians and to help solve the problems of access and cost of health care which patients and their families are facing throughout the state.

“One of the ways that we aim to do this is through Emory’s Virtual Patient Care program, which aims to establish outstanding care for patients at the right time, the right place and with the greatest efficiency.”

In related news, Cagle, who is considered by many to be the Republican frontrunner to replace outgoing Gov. Nathan Deal, announced Monday that his campaign raised $2.7 million in donations in its first two months — the most ever in a Georgia governor’s race for this disclosure period.

Cagle earned support from more than 1,200 donors.

“I want to thank the thousands of supporters who have chosen to support my bold vision for the state we all love,” Cagle said. “Our message of visionary conservative leadership is resonating with people in every community. The level of financial support we have received is immensely humbling and encouraging.”

House Minority Leader Rep. Stacey Abrams, thought to be the leading Democratic contender, reported raising $541,758 from more than 3,000 contributors. Her campaign said more than half of the contributions to the campaign were $25 or less.

“I am deeply grateful for the outpouring of support my campaign for governor has received in just a few short weeks,” Abrams said. “Our campaign will harness the power of all Georgians to change the state, and this work must begin early. Because families across our state have chipped in and donated their time, Georgia will be a place where people have the opportunity to succeed – not just survive.”