Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is seeking to modify the state's Medicaid program, Georgia Pathways, for low-income parents with children under six. His proposal would remove the current requirement for these parents to work, study, or volunteer to receive Medicaid coverage. If approved by the incoming Trump administration, this change would allow those applicable parents with incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty line to access Medicaid without these conditions. Kemp argues this flexibility is crucial for helping parents re-enter the workforce in a rapidly growing state.
Georgia Pathways remains controversial, having insured just 4,231 people in its first year; that's a fraction of those who are eligible. Critics argue that work requirements are excessively demanding for already struggling families and that the program is financially inefficient, with most of its $40 million budget spent on administrative costs rather than healthcare. State Senate Democrats have labeled Kemp's plan as "damage control," highlighting the significant number of uninsured Georgians and criticizing the state for not utilizing available federal funds to expand coverage more broadly.
Kemp will need to get approval from the Trump administration to make the change. A rep said Kemp's revised plan would cost an extra $207,000. The state recently spent $10.7 million to increase awareness of the Georgia Pathways program. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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