SR201: SR201 Governor Brian Kemp; include full-time care givers for the elderly, sick, and disabled in the Georgia Pathways expansion; urge

25 LC 129 0177 Senate Resolution 201 By: Senators Harrell of the 40th and Echols of the 49th A RESOLUTION Urging Governor Brian Kemp to include full-time care givers for the elderly, sick, and1 disabled in the Georgia Pathways expansion; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, over 1 million Georgians are family care givers who pr ovide regular, unpaid3 care to parents, spouses, and others who are elderly, have a chronic health condition, and/or4 are living with a disability; and5 WHEREAS, the economic value of that unpaid care is estimated to be over $16 billion in6 Georgia alone; and7 WHEREAS, family care givers in low-income communities can help prevent or delay the8 need for more costly Medicaid services, such as a hospital or nursing home stay, for those9 they care for and thus provide significant support to the state's Medicaid program; and10 WHEREAS, low-income family care givers are less likely to have access to high-quality,11 affordable health care coverage, and about one-third report having neglected their own health12 care due to their care giving responsibilities; and13 S. R. 201 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0177 WHEREAS, adding family care giving for an adult relative as a qualifying activity under the14 Pathways to Coverage program could increase program enrollment and help ensure15 low-income family care givers get the health care that they nee d so that they can focus on16 their care giving responsibilities, which decrease the burden of more high-need and costly17 Medicaid enrollees on the state budget.18 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body19 urge Governor Brian Kemp to include full-time care givers for the elderly, sick, and disabled20 in the Georgia Pathways expansion.21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed22 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the23 press.24 S. R. 201 - 2 -