Georgia's Health Care Calamity: Proposed Medicaid Cuts Threaten State Budget and Access to Care

Health care advocates in Georgia warned Monday that congressional Republicans' proposed budget, which includes cuts to Medicaid programs, would cause a health care calamity in the state and threaten access to care, mental health services, and likely increase the rate of uninsured individuals. According to Natalie Crawford, executive director of Georgia First, a nonprofit in support of Medicaid, the proposed cuts would put significant stress on Georgia's state budget, leave more people without access to health care, and lead to a less-productive workforce.

Key Takeaways:

• The proposed budget would cut Medicaid programs, leaving nearly 800,000 low-income Georgians without insurance, and putting enormous pressure on the state budget.
• If Congress chooses to let tax credits expire, which subsidize the cost of insurance for Georgians purchasing coverage on the open state marketplace, many of those 800,000 individuals will become uninsured.
• Georgia lawmakers should maximize existing opportunities to provide residents with health care, including expanding Medicaid to allow those earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level to qualify for the program.
• Republican leaders have refused to expand Medicaid, citing concern about the stability of federal funding, leaving individuals like Alton Fry, who has prostate cancer and earns too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to pay for private insurance, without health insurance.
• The proposed bill would also institute work requirements for Medicaid recipients, which do not go into effect until 2029, and would eliminate a 5% incentive given to states by the federal government during the pandemic.
• Work requirements, as implemented in Georgia two years ago, have seen low enrollment and high administrative costs, and federal budget estimators say at least 7.7 million Americans would lose health insurance nationwide.
• Republicans want the cuts to help offset tax breaks President Donald Trump would like to add, which opponents say are fiscally irresponsible and would hurt vulnerable populations.

Statistics:

• 800,000: The number of low-income Georgians who receive private insurance through the health care exchange created through the Affordable Care Act.
• 138%: The federal poverty level which would allow individuals to qualify for Medicaid under an expanded program.
• 21,000: The amount of $ in 2025 that an individual would need to earn to qualify for Medicaid under an expanded program.
• 7.7 million: The number of Americans who would lose health insurance under nationwide work requirements for Medicaid recipients.
• 5%: The incentive given to states by the federal government during the pandemic that would be eliminated under the proposed bill.
• 90%: The federal match for states that expanded Medicaid, which would be preserved under the proposed bill.

Sources:

• Natalie Crawford, executive director of Georgia First, a nonprofit in support of Medicaid
• American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network
• Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Athens)
• Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter (R-St. Simons Island)
• AJC Politically Georgia
• Georgia First
• American Cancer Society
• Affordable Care Act
• President Donald Trump