Caring for the Whole Health of Georgia

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A critical initiative from CareSource is maintaining access to care for rural Georgia communities by providing emergency funding for hospitals and hospital-owned skilled nursing homes at risk of closure due to cash flow challenges. The CareSource Rural Access Advancement Program has invested $5 million to date, which will be repaid and reinvested in the program once the facilities are stabilized.

The expiration of COVID-19 relief funds, along with rising health care costs, pose significant risks to these hospitals and communities. Since 2010, nine hospitals have closed in Georgia, making our state third in the nation for hospital closures. When a rural hospital closes, residents are left without access to emergency services and preventative care. In addition, hospitals are often one of the largest employers in these communities which can create an economic ripple effect.

With 26% of Georgians living outside of urban areas, preserving rural hospitals is of critical importance. This program is one way that CareSource is improving access to care for rural Georgians, an organizational priority for CareSource. HomeTown Health, an organization that represents the collective voices of more than 45 rural hospitals in Georgia, has been a collaborative adviser in establishing the program’s advisory governance and funding administration. Through these collective efforts, CareSource is working to help keep these important health care facilities open.