From 2003-2005, the center partnered with the Georgia Department of Community Health to award $275,000 in grants to six communities around the state to improve appropriate utilization of Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids primary and preventive services. This community grant was designed to promote collaboration among community-based organizations, health care providers, and the State Medicaid agency. The center created the request for proposals (RFPs), coordinated the review and award process, and provided technical assistance. The center also conducted a retrospective evaluation to identify the methods used to increase health services utilization, the barriers encountered, and the innovative solutions created. The evaluation revealed that investment in community-based organizations can lead to creative and novel solutions to improving the appropriate utilization of health services.
Georgia’s Utilization Minigrant Program: Promoting Medicaid/CHIP Outreach