Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s new health program for low-income adults had enrolled just 1,343 people as of the end of September, about three months after it launched. atlanta constitution Report.
The Georgia Department of Community Health anticipates that up to 100,000 people will eventually benefit from the Georgia coverage pathway. But Medicaid, the only U.S. program that lets recipients meet work requirements, got off to a very slow start.
“We will continue our efforts to educate Georgians about Pathways’ innovative, unprecedented opportunities and enroll more in the coming months,” Kemp’s office said in a statement.
Progress on the plan has been slow reflect fundamental flaws That includes the added burden of submitting and verifying hours worked compared with Medicaid expansions in other states, experts say. Some critics point out that this is happening at a time when the state is taking tens of thousands of people off the Medicaid rolls — at least some of whom may be eligible for Pathways — as part of a federally mandated review.
“Coverage pathways fall far short of these promises to uninsured Georgians. Expanding Medicaid would be A more efficient way to effectively reach the state’s residents and connect them to health services.
The state Department of Community Health declined to provide the registration number to the newspaper until the Journal-Constitution told Kemp’s office that it would report that the state appeared to be violating its open records law. The department later provided the records but denied violating the law.
The Biden administration has already tried to roll back Georgia’s Medicaid program once and is monitoring it, so any missteps could have broader consequences.They could also hinder future Republican efforts Making Medicaid Eligibility Dependent on Work.
nation Start Pathway Program July 1st, just when it starts Medicaid Eligibility Review After the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. Federal law prohibits states from removing people from Medicaid during the three-year emergency.
The state previously said it was delaying reassessments for 160,000 people who are no longer eligible for traditional Medicaid but are eligible for Pathways to help them maintain health coverage. But observers say they have found little public information campaigns targeting targeted groups.
thirty-nine states Expanded Medicaid Eligibility For nearly all adults, incomes at 138 percent of the federal poverty level amount to $20,120 per year for a single person and $41,400 per year for a family of four. north carolina Will become the 40th state to do so in December. None of these states require recipients to work in order to qualify.
Broader Medicaid expansion was a key part of President Barack Obama’s 2010 health care overhaul, but many Republican governors, including Kemp, Refused. In addition to imposing work requirements, Pathways limits coverage to able-bodied adults with incomes at or below 100 percent of the poverty level — $14,580 for a single person and $30,000 for a family of four.
Camp thought a full-scale expansion would cost too much money. State officials and Pathways supporters say a work requirement would also help Medicaid recipients transition to better private health insurance and argue that working, studying or volunteering improves their health.
Critics say many low-income earners struggle to keep track of the required 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, study or vocational rehabilitation.
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