Expansion of Medicaid for Georgia's poor on the table, with a twist

A leading Georgia state senator voiced full-throated support for expanding government health coverage for the poor under a federal “waiver,” similar to what Vice President Mike Pence did when he was governor of Indiana.

The comments came Friday during a testy study committee hearing about hospital financing. The committee’s chairman, state Sen. Ben Watson, R-Savannah, had proposed draft legislation that would roll back regulations that protect hospitals. Watson said he supported rolling back the regulations, but he also backed the idea of the waiver.

Under such waivers, states tailor Medicaid expansion to cover those who make less than the poverty level in the state’s own way.

“I think it is the responsibility of our Legislature, of our society, that people have coverage so that they can be seen,” said Watson, a doctor.

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