ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp introduced Tuesday he would allot $125 million in federal COVID-19 reduction cash to develop school-based well being facilities.
It’s the newest transfer by Kemp to spend federal cash as he runs for reelection towards Democrat Stacey Abrams. It’s additionally one other instance of how Kemp can use the facility of his workplace to bolster his run towards Abrams, particularly as a result of Georgia legislation offers him sole management over federal funds.
“This progressive program is consistent with our ongoing efforts to decrease prices and enhance entry to high quality healthcare protection for everybody — particularly these in rural Georgia — with out assigning an unfair price ticket to taxpayers,” Kemp mentioned in an announcement.
Democrats attack Kemp for doling out the money even as he opposed the passage of some COVID-19 relief bills handed by Congress. He’s additionally declined to hunt the enlargement of state-federal Medicaid medical insurance to cowl all adults.
“Kemp ought to cease attempting to say credit score for cash he fought within the first place,” mentioned Abrams spokesperson Alex Floyd. “If Kemp needs to put money into public schooling, it’ll take greater than election-year gimmicks.”
The state Division of Training will give out grants of as much as $1 million apiece to start out well being facilities that can care for college kids, and in some circumstances, neighborhood members. The concept is to assist pupil achievement by enhancing their bodily and psychological well being, in addition to assembly dental and imaginative and prescient wants.
Ashley Harris, who oversees school-based well being facilities for the Georgia Division of Training, mentioned the cash would “help college students by eradicating a major studying barrier, entry to healthcare.”
The brand new announcement will present as much as $1 million per venture for colleges that get federal cash as a result of massive shares of the scholars come from households in poverty. There are greater than 1,500 Title 1 colleges in Georgia.
The state division mentioned it’s engaged on a timeframe to award the grants, which might pay for additions, renovations, provides and personnel. There are at present about 100 school-based well being facilities in Georgia, normally operated as a partnership between the varsity district and a federally certified well being care middle.
The $1 million is considerably increased than the $200,000 federal grants made by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in May to strengthen school-based well being facilities. Two federally certified well being facilities within the state, East Georgia Healthcare Heart in Swainsboro and Medlink Georgia in Colbert acquired these grants.
Katie Byrd, a spokesperson for Kemp mentioned the governor’s workplace believes $1 million will cowl startup prices and three years of operations. After that, the operator of the well being middle must maintain it primarily based on different income. As a result of the federally-funded Kids’s Well being Insurance coverage Program, recognized in Georgia as PeachCare for Children, covers many kids, suppliers would be capable of search insurance coverage reimbursement for nearly all college students.
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