Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s new health plan for low-income adults has enrolled 1,343 people through the end of September about three months after launching, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The Georgia Department of Community Health has projected up to 100,000 people could eventually benefit from Georgia Pathways to Coverage. But the nation’s only Medicaid program that makes recipients meet a work requirement is off to a very slow start.
“We will continue working to educate Georgians about Pathways’ innovative, first-of-its-kind opportunity and enroll more individuals in the months to come,” Kemp’s office said in a statement.
There is plenty of criticism from opponents of the governor’s Medicaid plan. The majority of states have expanded Medicaid coverage, but Georgia has rejected that move.
Kemp has argued full expansion would cost too much money. State officials and supporters of Pathways say the work requirement will also help transition Medicaid recipients to better, private health insurance, and argue that working, studying or volunteering leads to improved health.
Critics say many low-income people struggle to document the required 80 hours a month of work, volunteer activity, study or vocational rehabilitation.
Comments