ATLANTA — A top legislative Republican said on Wednesday he wants to explore Medicaid expansion in Georgia. It’s something 40 other states have done, but Georgia Republicans have given it a hard no.
Jon Burns is the Speaker of the House. Along with Governor Brian Kemp, he’s one of the two most powerful elected officials at the State Capitol.
Burns spoke at a Georgia Chamber of Commerce breakfast – where he told his audience he wants House Republicans to look at Medicaid expansion in Georgia "to get more information from different stakeholders, policy experts and members on both sides of the aisle to develop any potential recommendations on this issue."
Kemp has opposed Medicaid expansion while trying to devise alternative programs with only spotty success. His predecessor Nathan Deal also opposed Medicaid expansion, a program funded mostly with federal money under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act.
Heather Payne of Dalton said she is uninsured after losing her job and suffering from a stroke. Payne said Medicaid expansion would give her potentially lifesaving health care options.
"It would make a massive difference," Payne said. "Even them just thinking about it, kicking it around, that’s a wonderful thing. I’m encouraged."
It’s important to note that Burns is not actively advocating for Medicaid expansion – just cracking open a door.
"I’m encouraged that we’re looking at the facts that surround expansion that looks at health care," Burns told reporters Wednesday. "And we’ll continue to do our work."
Kemp’s office isn’t commenting on it – keeping the cracked door ever so slightly open.