ATLANTA — Republican lawmakers appear to be cracking open a door to allow Medicaid expansion in the state. It would represent a shift in Georgia, where GOP leadership has refused the federal funding from the Obama-era program.
Georgia is one of just nine states that have declined Medicaid expansion.
In a November House committee hearing, the speaker was a Republican state senator from Arkansas, who was at Georgia’s Capitol talking up her state’s expansion of Medicaid.
"Generally it’s always about the money. But when you look at economic development, health care is economic development," said Arkansas Republican state Sen. Missy Irvin, telling Georgia lawmakers that expanding Medicaid kept rural hospitals open in Arkansas and saved people’s lives.
The Georgia Republican committee chairman seemed surprised.
"I’m trying to get my head wrapped around all this. This all sounds incredibly good and sensible," said Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville).
In Georgia, an estimated 19 percent of the population under 65 has no health insurance, according to the CDC.
It’s an issue Democrats like Stacey Abrams have championed for years. When voters elected Brian Kemp twice as governor, he rejected Medicaid expansion.
"I’m one of those that, I’ve never been in favor of it in the past," GOP Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said this week, adding he’s willing to at least talk about Medicaid expansion this legislative session. Jones is behind a separate health care issue that would eliminate government roadblocks to building new health facilities.
"I’m always open to discussion on any subject matter," Jones said when asked about Medicaid expansion.
Federal dollars would vastly pay the cost of Medicaid expansion, as has been the case in other states.
"It's up to them to make it happen. They are the majority party," said expansion advocate Liz Ernst of Protect Our Care Georgia. She thinks other Republicans could compromise on Medicaid expansion if Jones does.
"It’s a no brainer. So it has been very frustrating, not understanding why this hasn’t been accepted by Republicans here in Georgia."
But because it's an election year, many observers believe a bipartisan compromise on Medicaid expansion in 2024 would be a longshot.