Atlanta health watch: state funding, an infant formula outbreak update, and March hospital events

ByWeence

Atlanta, GA – March 4, 2026 – Federal approval for Georgia’s GREAT Health Program, an infant formula outbreak update, and new Northside events.

State funding: CMS approves Georgia’s GREAT Health Program budget

Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) officials say the state has received final federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for an amended first-year budget to use $218,862,169.63 through the Rural Health Transformation Program. DCH says the Georgia Rural Enhancement and Transformation of Health Program (GREAT Health) is intended to strengthen rural health systems, improve outcomes statewide, and support new approaches to care delivery.

DCH said it is coordinating next steps with subgrantees named in the original application, including the Georgia Department of Public Health, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce. The agency said subgrantees will receive funds over the coming months to begin their projects.

Outbreak update: Infant botulism investigation tied to recalled formula is declared over

In a Feb. 26 update, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it and the CDC, alongside state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of infant botulism and that analyses indicated ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula was the source. FDA said the CDC has declared the outbreak over, noting that no new cases were added after Dec. 10, 2025 and that some previously reported cases were later excluded after review.

A separate report published by WSB-TV, citing the CDC, said the outbreak involved 48 infants sickened since 2023, with all hospitalized and no deaths reported. The report said investigators have not identified exactly how or where contamination occurred.

Health insurance: Georgia Access posts reminders on tax forms and special enrollment

Georgia Access, the state’s health insurance marketplace, is directing enrollees to retrieve 1095 forms through their Georgia Access portal, an enhanced direct enrollment account, or an agent. The site also notes that open enrollment for plan year 2026 ended Jan. 15, 2026, but qualifying life events may make some residents eligible for a special enrollment period.

Hospital/community: Northside Hospital posts March events, screenings and cessation programs

Northside Hospital published a roundup of March community events that includes free prostate and skin cancer screenings in Canton on March 12 and a tobacco cessation course offered in multiple locations beginning March 17. Northside also highlighted a March 23 town hall, ‘The State of Cancer Care in 2026,’ hosted with Cancer Support Community Atlanta at Northside Hospital Cherokee, along with ongoing education classes related to childbirth and newborn care.

Sources

https://dch.georgia.gov/announcement/2026-02-26/georgia-receives-federal-approval-2188m-great-health-program
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-infant-botulism-infant-formula-november-2025
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/health/byheart-infant/I2DE6W6KLU54LMFPYEONNWQYX4/
https://georgiaaccess.gov/
https://www.northside.com/about/news-center/articles/2026/02/26/healthy-happenings-at-northside-march-events

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