Today, Peach State Health Plan announced it awarded $35,000 in financial grants to seven providers in Georgia for ranking among the top 100 providers with the highest increase in COVID-19 vaccination rates.

Last year, Centene, the parent company of Peach State Health Plan, formed an initiative to encourage Peach State Health Plan providers to educate members about the COVID-19 vaccine. The top 100 providers with the highest increase in vaccination rates after the initiative would receive a $5,000 grant for medical equipment. Seven local providers were recognized for their top rankings:

• Buford Norcross Primary Care, Southbridge Pkwy, Alpharetta

• Better Health Medical Group, Steve Reynolds Blvd, Norcross

• Gwinnett Hospital System, East Crogan St, Lawrenceville

• SY Med, LLC, Philip Blvd, Lawrenceville

• QCPI-VillageMD, PC, Old Norcross Rd, Lawrenceville

• Sumter Pediatrics, LLC, GA Hwy 27 E, Americus

• Stone Mountain Family Medicine, Hairston Rd, Stone Mountain

Receiving a $5,000 grant each, providers will be able to purchase medical equipment upgrades for their facilities to better serve their communities. The investment will allow them to serve patients with new equipment and improved healthcare delivery.

"Medical equipment can be expensive, especially as providers deal with the ongoing repercussions of the pandemic and its impact on their resources," said Wade Rakes, CEO and President of Peach State Health Plan. "By pairing vaccination efforts with medical equipment grants, we're not only helping our network of trusted providers protect their communities and loved ones from COVID-19; we're helping them invest in efficiency and new equipment for their facilities to continue providing quality healthcare to every individual who walks through their doors."

As the world continues to face outbreaks caused by COVID-19 variants, it is important as ever to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Through this initiative, Centene and Peach State Health Plan worked with local providers to conduct engagement campaigns that educated their patients about the importance of getting vaccinated. The additional incentive helped motivate providers to engage their communities as much as possible and increase vaccination rates.

"We take it seriously in protecting our community, especially the vulnerable population during this pandemic," said Dr. Nelson Madrazo of Sumter Pediatrics, LLC. "We believe vaccination is our best tool in combating COVID-19. Get vaccinated!"