"On Second Thought" For Monday, April 8, 2019

The Patients First Act is now Georgia law. It allows Gov. Brian Kemp’s office to request a Medicaid waiver from the federal government. Both proponents and opponents of the move are making it clear a waiver isn’t the same as full Medicaid expansion, which is what then-President Obama envisioned for states when crafting the Affordable Care Act.

Democrats say a waiver doesn’t go far enough while some conservatives say even a partial expansion is too costly.

On Second Thought for Monday, April 8, 2019

Georgia Health News editor and CEO Andy Miller stopped by On Second Thought to explain what the Patients First Act means for the future of health care in the state. He also talked about the outbreak of three measles cases in metro Atlanta and gave a recap of flu season.

In the majority of Georgia families, mothers are the sole, primary or co-breadwinners, according to the Center for American Progress. But that doesn't mean they have the wages to adequately support themselves and their loved ones — particularly when it comes to minimum wage workers in Georgia, of whom 6 in 10 are women. And beyond the wage and wealth gap, women lack access to other things that Shilpa Phadke says are critical for their economic security: affordable child care, harassment-free work environments and quality health care.

Phadke is the vice president of the women's initiative at the Center for American Progress. She spoke with us about the obstacles she has found that women in Georgia face when it comes to achieving financial prosperity, or even stability.

This year's Atlanta Film Festival celebrates Georgia talent, along with the debuts of some significant documentary and narrative features.

Beth Ward, film and books editor for Arts ATL, joined us for a conversation about some of the festival highlights, including Georgia-produced Summer Night and Lulu Wang's The Farewell, starring Awkwafina. The festival runs through April 14.

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