#HealthcareAccess | AM 1180 Radio

March 19, 2026

Health Fair Seeking Vendors in Chattooga County for April 18 Event

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The Live Healthy Chattooga County Coalition is inviting vendors and community members to take part in the 2nd Annual Health Fair set for Saturday, April 18, 2026.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center in Summerville and will focus on promoting health, wellness, and preventive care across the community.

Organizers say the health fair will feature a wide range of free health screenings, including cholesterol and glucose checks, blood pressure and BMI screenings, HIV testing, prostate and colorectal cancer screenings, vision exams, dental screenings, and hands-on CPR demonstrations. Mammograms will also be available by appointment.

The coalition is encouraging local vendors to participate, offering an opportunity to connect with community members, promote services, and support ongoing health initiatives in Chattooga County. Each vendor will be provided with a table and chairs, and organizers say door prizes are encouraged but optional.

Vendor setup is scheduled for Friday, April 17, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Officials say the event aims to improve access to healthcare resources while raising awareness about preventive health measures and overall well-being.

Those interested in participating or seeking more information are encouraged to contact the Live Healthy Chattooga County Coalition.

March 5, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

AdventHealth to Hold Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for New Summerville Primary Care & Urgent Care Facility

Local News, Local News Items #AdventHealthMedicalGroup, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyEvents, #CommunityHealthcare, #CommunityNews, #grandopening, #HealthcareAccess, #HealthcareInChattooga, #HealthcareInNorthwestGeorgia, #LocalEvents, #LocalHealthcare, #MedicalCare, #northwestgeorgia, #NorthwestGeorgiaEvents, #PrimaryCare, #RibbonCutting, #SummervilleEvents, #summervillega, #UrgentCare, #wzqznews, AdventHealth 0

Residents of Chattooga County and surrounding Northwest Georgia communities are invited to attend the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care & Urgent Care location in Summerville.

The event will take place TODAY, Thursday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. at the new facility located at 9777 Rome Boulevard in Summerville.

Community members, local leaders, and healthcare representatives are expected to attend the celebration marking the opening of the new medical facility. The event will give residents an opportunity to learn more about the services offered while celebrating expanded healthcare access for the region.

AdventHealth officials say the new location will provide primary care services as well as urgent care, helping meet the growing healthcare needs of Chattooga County and nearby Northwest Georgia communities.

Ribbon cuttings and grand openings like this are often held in partnership with local chambers of commerce and community organizations to welcome new businesses and services to the area.

Residents are encouraged to attend and help celebrate the addition of another healthcare resource serving the Summerville community.

March 4, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Red Cross Calls for March Blood Donations as Shortage Hits; Free A1C Screening and $15 Gift Card Offered

Local News, Local News Items #A1CTest, #AmericanRedCross, #BloodDonation, #BloodDrive, #BloodShortage, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityHealth, #DiabetesAwareness, #DonateInMarch, #GiveBlood, #HealthcareAccess, #northwestgeorgia, #PlasmaDonation, #Platelets, #Prediabetes, #PreventiveCare, #RedCrossBloodDonorApp, #RedCrossMonth, #SaveLives, #wzqznews 0

The American Red Cross is urging donors to help the national blood supply recover from a severe shortage by making an appointment to give blood during March.

As an added thank-you during Red Cross Month, the Red Cross says successful blood, platelet, or plasma donations made March 1 through March 31, 2026 will come with two incentives: free A1C testing (one result per calendar year) and a $15 Amazon gift card delivered by email.

February 25, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Advocates Urge Georgia Lawmakers to Seek Broader Medicaid Waivers and Expand Coverage

Local News, Local News Items #AffordableCareAct, #GeorgiaMedicaid, #georgiapolitics, #HealthcareAccess, #HealthCoverage, #LowIncomeFamilies, #MedicaidExpansion, #MedicaidWaivers, #PathwaysToCoverage, #PublicHealthPolicy, #wzqznews 0

Health care advocacy groups and some Georgia lawmakers are pushing state leaders to pursue broader Medicaid waiver authority and expansion efforts to increase access to health coverage for low-income residents. The calls come amid ongoing debate over the state’s current Medicaid “Pathways to Coverage” waiver program and efforts to close the coverage gap that leaves hundreds of thousands uninsured in Georgia — one of the states that has not adopted full Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Supporters argue that expanded waivers and coverage would help more Georgians gain essential care, while critics caution about potential costs and administrative challenges under existing waivers that include work requirements and narrow eligibility criteria.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Advocates Urge Stronger Enforcement of Georgia’s Mental Health Parity Law

Local News, Local News Items #BehavioralHealth, #CommunityHealth, #GeorgiaLegislature, #GeorgiaMentalHealth, #HealthcareAccess, #HealthCoverage, #InsuranceLaw, #MentalHealthAdvocacy, #MentalHealthCare, #MentalHealthParity, #ParityLaw, #PolicyNews, #wzqznews 0

Mental health advocates in Georgia are urging lawmakers to strengthen and enforce the state’s Mental Health Parity Act, arguing that too many people still face denials, delays, or limited access when trying to get behavioral health care covered by insurance.

February 19, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Second Annual Chattooga County Health Fair Set for April 18

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The Second Annual Chattooga County Health Fair will return this spring, offering residents access to free health resources, screenings, and educational vendors in one convenient location.

February 16, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

AdventHealth Medical Group Opening New Primary Care & Urgent Care Clinic in Summerville Today

Local News, Local News Items #AdventHealthMedicalGroup, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityHealth, #FamilyHealth, #GeorgiaAutoBrokers, #Godfreys, #HealthcareAccess, #HinesLandscaping, #LocalBusiness, #MitchellsPlumbing, #NewClinic, #northwestgeorgia, #OccupationalHealth, #PrimaryCare, #RomeBoulevard, #SameDayAppointments, #SchoolHealth, #summervillega, #UrgentCare, #WalkInCare, #WholePersonCare, #WorkersComp, #wzqznews, AdventHealth 0

AdventHealth Medical Group is expanding access to healthcare in Chattooga County with the opening of a new Primary Care & Urgent Care clinic in Summerville this month.

The new clinic, AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care & Urgent Care at Summerville, will open today, February 16 and will be located at 9777 Rome Boulevard, Summerville, GA 30747. The location will provide whole-person primary care for patients of all ages, along with occupational health, workers’ compensation, and school health services. Organizers say walk-in and same-day appointments will be available to help meet urgent and routine healthcare needs quickly.

Care at the Summerville clinic will be provided by nurse practitioners Christie Tankersley, ACNP-BC, and Anna Nicole Herring, FNP-C. AdventHealth Medical Group says the new clinic is part of its continued commitment to bringing high-quality, compassionate care closer to families across Northwest Georgia.

February 14, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia House OKs Bill Allowing Pharmacists to Prescribe HIV Prevention Drugs

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A bill aimed at expanding access to HIV prevention medication has cleared the Georgia House, moving the state one step closer to allowing pharmacists to play a larger role in preventing new HIV infections.

February 14, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Critics Warn Georgia Income Tax Cut Plan Could Leave Working Families Behind

Local News, Local News Items #BudgetCuts, #CommunitySupport, #CostOfLiving, #EconomicJustice, #EducationFunding, #FairTaxes, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgiapolitics, #HealthcareAccess, #IncomeTax, #LowIncomeFamilies, #PublicServices, #RegressiveTaxes, #ruralhealth, #TaxCuts, #WorkingClass, #wzqznews 0

A major income tax cut plan approved by the Georgia Senate is being praised by supporters as “relief” for taxpayers — but critics on the left say the measure could end up harming the very people it claims to help: low-income residents and the lower working class.

February 12, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Hospitals Prepare for $218 Million Rural Health Transformation Rollout

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Georgia’s hospitals are getting ready for the money by treating it like a competitive, time-boxed grant opportunity rather than a bailout. The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), which applied for and will manage the funds, is setting up a grant process where eligible providers must apply and show their projects “cannot maintain the status quo,” with the dollars needing to be allocated by October 2026.