Red states that have resisted Medicaid expansion are feeling pressure to give up : NPR

Crafting content in English with a key focus on the term “Medicaid expansion resistance pressure.”

Medicaid Expansion Resistance Pressure in Georgia

A recent message from Gov. Brian Kemp’s aides to lawmakers expressed skepticism about expanding Georgia’s Medicaid program, dampening efforts to provide healthcare coverage for hundreds of thousands of uninsured residents.

Aides to Gov. Brian Kemp recently conveyed his doubts about expanding Georgia’s Medicaid program, hindering the push to offer health coverage to numerous uninsured individuals.

ATLANTA – Only 10 states, primarily in the South where Republicans hold sway, have not embraced Medicaid expansion. Despite this, a decade after the Affordable Care Act introduced this option, resistance to Medicaid expansion is gradually diminishing.

In a significant move, North Carolina recently joined the list of states expanding Medicaid. Consequently, influential GOP figures in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia are contemplating following suit in the future.

During a gathering near the State Capitol in Georgia, legislators and policymakers, including many Republicans, convened to learn from neighboring states that have already expanded Medicaid.

“The journey was challenging initially,” shared North Carolina Republican Rep. Donny Lambeth. “I was among the few Republicans advocating for it. Despite initial resistance within my party, perseverance is key.”

Lambeth recounted his nearly decade-long endeavor to persuade his GOP colleagues in the legislature to support Medicaid expansion, emphasizing the importance of persistence and storytelling to convey the impact on constituents.

By reframing the narrative as “closing the coverage gap” rather than “expanding Medicaid,” Lambeth garnered support and highlighted the stories of individuals across the state facing healthcare challenges.

Lambeth reassured Georgia lawmakers that supporting expansion did not result in any GOP colleagues losing primary elections.

Currently, approximately 600,000 low-income North Carolinians are eligible for coverage, with an estimated 400,000 individuals in Georgia poised to benefit from expansion.

Despite the evident benefits, the term “Medicaid expansion” remains contentious among many Republicans due to its association with former President Barack Obama, prompting some GOP-led states to introduce alternative program models.

Georgia Republican lawmakers are exploring a model similar to Arkansas, where Medicaid expansion funds are utilized to purchase private insurance plans.

Cindy Gillespie, former Arkansas health secretary, highlighted the positive impact of their state’s approach on rural communities over the past decade.

Conversely, rural Georgia has witnessed the closure of nine hospitals since 2010, leading free clinics to step in and address the healthcare gap.

Nurse Glenda Battle, volunteering at the Samaritan Clinic in Albany, Ga., emphasized the critical role of clinics in providing essential care to patients with limited access to healthcare services.

During a recent Georgia legislative hearing on Medicaid expansion, Battle underscored the economic benefits, emphasizing the importance of sustaining struggling hospitals and supporting low-income individuals.

Despite acknowledging these disparities, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s current approach – a limited expansion with a work requirement – has only enrolled around 2,300 individuals since its inception last year.

Georgia lawmakers convened a roundtable to discuss potential options for Medicaid expansion within the state.

Georgia lawmakers engaged in a roundtable discussion regarding potential Medicaid expansion strategies in the state.

This enrollment figure represents a mere fraction of what full Medicaid expansion could achieve at a higher cost per person.

Despite some lukewarm interest from top Republican officials and cautious optimism from long-standing Democratic proponents of expansion, Gov. Kemp recently filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration to maintain his program and reiterated his disinterest in full expansion.

Following initial signals of openness to exploring Medicaid expansion, top Republicans in the Georgia House introduced a bill suggesting another session may pass without concrete action.

The proposed bill primarily focuses on reforming hospital regulations, a component often linked to potential Medicaid expansion deals, and establishes a committee to study the Arkansas model.

Meanwhile, Georgia continues to forego billions in federal funding by not expanding Medicaid, a decision that could have significant economic repercussions.

During a panel discussion with Southern health policymakers, Georgia Republican Sen. Chuck Hufstetler emphasized the need to prioritize healthcare expansion to attract investments and foster a healthy workforce in the state.

While discussions around Medicaid expansion persist, the prevailing sentiment among a growing number of lawmakers is not if but when Georgia will join other states in expanding Medicaid.

WABE’s Rahul Bali and Jess Mador contributed to this report.