Three Democratic senators requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the costs of Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement program, known as “Georgia Pathways to Coverage. ” This program is the only active Medicaid work requirement in the U. S. and has spent tens of millions of dollars on administration and consulting, enrolling only 5,542 people as of November 1. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon criticized this initiative, arguing it complicates healthcare access for Americans. Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock joined Wyden in the request.
The letter to the GAO asks for a summary of the program’s costs, how much federal money has been used, the cost per person, an analysis of contractors involved, and federal oversight details. This request aligns with the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump, who supports work requirements for Medicaid, a program that helps low-income individuals.
Georgia’s program requires applicants to work, volunteer, or study for 80 hours a month to qualify for Medicaid. The initiative, prioritized by Governor Brian Kemp, has had disappointing enrollment figures, with only 5,903 by December 13, well below the initial goal of over 25,000. The program has incurred more than $40 million in costs, primarily administrative, with potential future costs rising to $122 million. Georgia’s Medicaid agency noted that costs increased due to delays in the program’s launch, which faced legal challenges after being approved federally.
Despite launching over a year ago, Georgia has not yet removed people for not meeting the work requirement. Warnock criticized the program as ineffective and costly. Federal research indicates that the challenges and costs seen in Georgia may emerge in similar programs elsewhere. The Pathways program is set to expire on September 30 unless federal officials extend it.
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