TL/DR –
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a healthcare measure, Pathways to Coverage, that partially expands coverage for some low-income residents who complete 80 hours of work or other qualifying activities each month. Despite the program only covering 4,000 people out of 350,000 potential recipients, Kemp stated he does not intend to fully expand Medicaid, citing concerns over steering people away from private health insurance. The signed bill also establishes a nine-member panel tasked with examining healthcare issues affecting low-income and uninsured Georgians, potentially paving the way to a more comprehensive Medicaid expansion in the future.
Georgia Governor Signs High-Profile Health Care Bill While Reiterating Opposition to Full Medicaid Expansion
On Friday, the governor signed a high-profile health care bill, potentially paving the way for a broader Medicaid expansion in the future, despite expressing reservations about full expansion. “I’m in the ‘no’ camp,” he stated, referring to his stance on full expansion.
The governor’s Pathways to Coverage program was launched last summer to cater for some low-income Georgians. However, it has covered less than 4,000 of the potential 350,000 eligible individuals. The governor has attributed the sluggish start to the Biden administration’s attempts to halt the program.
Alongside the Pathways program, the governor has enacted a bill focused on the state’s certificate-of-need rules. In addition to this, the bill establishes a commission to investigate health care issues affecting low-income and uninsured Georgians.
At a bill signing ceremony on Friday, the governor highlighted an increase in funding for rural hospital tax credits and regulatory changes benefiting new or expanded health care facilities. These changes are expected to improve access to several essential areas of health care, including psychiatric and prenatal services and general acute hospitals.
Despite these developments, Georgia remains one of the ten states yet to fully expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Despite this, state Representatives like Scott Holcomb have expressed a preference for full expansion, criticizing the inefficient Georgia Pathways program.
The newly established commission in HB 1339 has been welcomed by health advocates. Monty Veazey, CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, celebrated the establishment of the Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission, stating it could herald a new era for Georgia health care, particularly for rural hospitals.
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