The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals announced recently that Sen. Greg Goggans (R-Douglas) has been named as its 2009 “Legislator of the Year.”

In announcing the award, the Alliance specifically praised Goggans for his leadership on healthcare issues at a critical time in Georgia’s history. The award is given to a single legislator each year, carefully selected by Georgia hospitals as worthy of recognition for exceptional achievements on healthcare issues.

“Greg Goggans combines influential political positions and deep healthcare knowledge with strong personal ethics, a humble devotion to service, and an unfailing instinct for doing the right thing,” said Georgia Alliance CEO Monty Veazey.

“In the past session, numerous attempts were made to slash Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids spending; in essence, balancing the state budget on the backs of Georgia’s most vulnerable. Greg is a huge reason why those attempts failed, and why Georgia’s community hospitals are alive, well and serving the public today,” Veazey continued.

Goggans was first elected to the Georgia State Senate from the 7th District in 2004. Goggans, a Republican, represents the citizens of Atkins, Bacon, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Lanier, Pierce, and Ware counties and portions of Cook County. Goggans is currently serving as Secretary of the Health and Human Services committee. Founded 26 years ago, GACH is the advocacy voice for Georgia’s not for profit community hospitals. GACH members currently account for the vast majority of Georgia’s hospital capacity, serving virtually every community in the State of Georgia.