End of the Year Wrap up in Georgia Law and Medicine
Georgia Refuses to Expand Medicaid and Attempts a More Costly, Less Coverage Medicaid Waiver Instead
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp finalized health care proposals for a Medicaid waiver request rather than electing to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities confirms that the cost of the waiver would equal that of expansion and yet cover 400,000 fewer eligible citizens. Georgia’s Medicaid Waiver also included a work requirement that did not provide for an exemption for those with a disability, serious illness or care-giving responsibilities. Further, the waiver did not include federal funding since it does not fall under the Affordable Care Act. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government pays for 100% of the expansion for the first five years and 90% of the expansion after that. Effectively, Georgia would spend less money to cover more people if it went with the Medicaid Expansion plan provided under the Affordable Care Act
Measles Returns to Georgia