Medicaid expansion: Much debated but still not studied in Georgia

With a troubled state budget, Louisiana is banking on an extra $184 million in savings.

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No such study of potential savings from Medicaid expansion has occurred in Georgia, industry experts say.

The option to expand Medicaid to adults up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which most states have approved, would extend coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income Georgians. A state has the option to decline or accept expansion of Medicaid, but its plan for expansion must get U.S. government approval to qualify for the additional federal funds.

So far, Georgia’s Republican-led government has opted against expansion, saying it would ultimately be too costly for the state. Support for the idea has shown some momentum lately, but it faces opposition from Republicans in the General Assembly.

Read more: http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/health/medicaid-expansion-much-debated-but-still-not-studied-in-georgia/article_1f335840-87b2-5b4a-8c1b-f0f7389be20e.html