In a significant shift from years of firm GOP resistance, a group of Senate Republicans from rural Georgia has joined forces to sponsor a new bipartisan bill aimed at fully expanding Medicaid through a conservative-friendly approach. Filed on Tuesday, the proposal seeks to leverage federal funding to purchase private insurance for individuals on the marketplace rather than simply increasing the number of participants in the state-run Medicaid program.

The bill, dubbed PeachCare Plus, would expand income eligibility to cover those typically included in traditional Medicaid expansion. Furthermore, it would establish an advisory commission to guide the program’s development. Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones, a Democrat from Augusta, expressed optimism at a press conference, stating, “We believe that this bipartisan legislation can actually get passed.” Among the four state senators from south Georgia who backed the bill are Sen. Sam Watson of Moultrie and Sen. Russ Goodman of Cogdell, who emphasized the importance of an open debate on the matter. Goodman shared a personal story highlighting the necessity of healthcare accessibility, recounting how a local hospital saved his son’s life after a tragic accident. He noted that local hospitals have indicated that Medicaid expansion could alleviate the financial burden from indigent care.

The new proposal mirrors a model previously adopted by Arkansas, which had caught the interest of Georgia’s GOP leaders, including House Speaker Jon Burns. However, Burns appears to have tempered his enthusiasm in light of the current political landscape and ongoing discussions regarding the state’s existing Georgia Pathways program, which has faced scrutiny under the Biden administration. Gov. Brian Kemp recently announced plans to renew Georgia Pathways, a program initiated under former President Trump that requires participants to fulfill work obligations. While Kemp has proposed certain exemptions, critics, including Natalie Crawford, executive director of Georgia First, argue that the initiative still misses out on billions in federal funding and neglects key demographics in need of coverage.

Democrats have been vocal in their criticisms of Kemp’s approach, insisting that the governor’s plan combines jobs and health insurance in a way that complicates accessibility. “It’s an administrative nightmare,” asserted Jones. As of early January, participation in Georgia Pathways has fallen short of expectations, with only about 6,500 people enrolled against a potential 345,000 eligible Georgians. House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley emphasized the moral obligation to address the healthcare access crisis, labeling the failure of Republican leadership in this regard as significant. While the bipartisan bill is seen as a potential breakthrough, the path ahead remains uncertain, particularly with Kemp’s steadfast opposition to full Medicaid expansion.