Gubernatorial candidate and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms hosted a community roundtable at Life Space Wellness Center on Monday to share her plans for a “healthier Georgia.” Lance Bottoms sat at the center of the room, surrounded by faith leaders, healthcare providers, and community members. Behind her, posters displayed exactly what Lance Bottoms hoped for Georgians: lower costs and access to healthcare. Those impacted by rising healthcare costs gathered as Lance Bottoms encouraged an open discussion on healthcare in Georgia and shared her CARE plan to cut costs, expand access, recruit providers, and improve long-term health through better nutrition.
It builds upon Lance Bottoms’ work as mayor, where she appointed Atlanta’s first-ever Chief Health Officer to tackle chronic disease and improve community health, and initiated the transformation of the Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC) into a Center for Diversion and Services that connects people facing homelessness, mental health needs, and addiction to the services they need.
“There are so many underlying conditions within our communities, whether it’s asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., and it’s the reason that, especially communities of color, were so especially hard hit [during the pandemic],” Lance Bottoms said. “It’s often said that when America catches a cold, Black America catches the flu, and what we know is that epidemic is a daily occurrence in our community.”
The roundtable was a representation of small business owners, farmers, female entrepreneurs, truckers, older adults, and veterans. The community members highlighted issues from substance abuse and care for special needs adults and veterans to the skyrocketing premiums and the shortcomings of Medicaid when it comes to medical events, such as covering heart transplants and providing accessible home care for older adults…