State Community Health board holds meeting in Dublin

The Georgia Board of Community Health approved a waiver program renewal and rate increases for the Babies Can’t Wait program at its October meeting, held last week in the McGrath Keen Center.

The meeting marks the first time the board, which oversees Georgia’s Medicaid and other medical assistance programs, as well as the state employee health benefit plan, has convened in Dublin. The body, a group of nine governor appointees and chaired by local entrepreneur Roger Folsom, has typically met via conference call in the past. 

“I want to thank the group for coming. I think it’s real important that we do this occasionally,” Folsom said at the start of the meeting. “I have enjoyed the time with each of you and I think integration with our communities is important.”

The sentiment was echoed by Department of Community Health Commissioner Dean Burke. 

“From an agency standpoint I agree in-person meetings do provide the benefit of getting to know each other and hear the stories about the people who are serving us, and I think that helps us do a better job with what we’re trying to do, which is better take care of Georgians’ health,” he said. 

In action items the board approved a renewal of the Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program operated by the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The program serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need continuous, intensive support to live independently. 

The waiver, authorized under the Social Security Act, requires renewal every five years, goes into effect April 1, 2026. The program will cost an estimated $6.2 million, with the state’s share over the life of the renewal being less than half, at about $2 million. 

The board also approved rate increases for service coordinators of the Babies Can’t Wait program, as directed by House Bill 68 adopted by the Georgia General Assembly during the 2025 session. The program serves special needs infants and toddlers, from birth to 3 years old, enrolled in Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids. The rate for per month case management for the first six months increased to $152.25 from $145 and per month case management after six months to $141.75 from $135. The rate for developmental screening and testing also increased from $11.77 to $12.36. 

Also during the meeting, Burke marked the 25th anniversary of the state Office of Rural Health, with opened in October 2000 in Cordele. The office serves 68 rural hospitals and oversees the numerous state and federal healthcare grant programs.  

Burke also noted that the state is working on its application for the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The $50 billion program, part of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill adopted by Congress, aims to improve healthcare infrastructure and access in rural areas. Each state has until Nov. 5 to submit applications for a share of the funding. 

“According to them, the money will start flowing next calendar year,” Burke said. 

The state employee health plan has been at the center of the Dublin City School System’s financial woes. The cash-strapped district owes the plan about $6 million. 

Negotiations to settle the debt are still ongoing and no teacher, state officials said, has lost or been denied coverage during the process.