# Georgia RHTP: Public Health Investments — Newborn Screening Program

This initiative funds expansion of a second newborn screening laboratory site in Waycross, Georgia, ensuring that Atlanta is no longer the sole statewide newborn screening lab. The program is designed to reduce wait times for newborn screening results and expands laboratory capacity to benefit rural populations across Georgia's 126 HRSA-designated rural counties. The initiative emphasizes sustainability through third-party payers and user fees and is part of the Georgia GREAT Health Program's strategic effort to strengthen the health care continuum.

## Key facts

- Status: Announced, not yet open
- Type: GRANT
- Issued by: Georgia Department of Public Health (Georgia)
- Funding: $3.8M
- Eligible applicants: Public Health Agencies, Healthcare Institutions, Medical Laboratories
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://greathealth.georgia.gov/about-program/georgias-application/4-proposed-initiatives-and-use-funds/initiative-two

## Eligibility

Applicants must be entities serving Georgia's rural populations, targeting 126 HRSA-designated rural counties. Eligible applicants may include public health agencies, laboratories, and healthcare institutions operating in or serving these counties.

## Application package and source documents

- [GA - 2026 - Initiative Two (Georgia Initiative Two source)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/fbe2ae2e-20af-45cc-a1cb-ad535a85ae5d/file) (primary) — official: https://greathealth.georgia.gov/about-program/georgias-application/4-proposed-initiatives-and-use-funds/initiative-two

More Georgia RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ga (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ga.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/georgia-rhtp-public-health-investments-newborn-screening-program--ca4c0aa38e — data as of 2026-08-13.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.