The long-awaited health care proposal from House leaders would in some cases ease health care business regulations, but the measure is equally notable for what it doesn’t do: expand Medicaid.
instead, invoice Calls for the creation of a new commission tasked with advising the governor, legislators, and the state agency that administers Georgia’s Medicaid program on issues related to the access and quality of health care available to the state’s large number of uninsured residents. There is.
It would also increase the cap on the state’s local hospital tax credit program from $75 million to $100 million annually.
However, the main focus of this measure is on the state’s certificate of need regulations. For example, new acute care facilities could be opened in rural counties if they meet certain requirements, such as agreeing to serve as a teaching hospital and as a trauma center. Relaxing the program’s rules for rural hospitals would problem last year.
New or expanded psychiatric or substance abuse inpatient programs would also be allowed to circumvent the restrictions as long as they have agreements with nearby hospitals. The proposed changes are a nod to the state’s continued efforts to improve access to mental health treatment.
“It’s like operating a Rubik’s Cube. Once you understand one part of the bill, there’s another part you have to work on,” said Swainsboro Republican Rep. Butch Parrish, the bill’s lead sponsor. . “But this is a huge step forward in our attempt to advance health care in this state, provide better health care for people across the state, and ensure that everyone, regardless of their zip code, has access to quality health care.” I truly think it’s progress.” “
But the proposal was seen as an indication that this is not the year for Georgia to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
In this year’s Congress, It started with a chat It comes as Republican leaders have expressed interest in an Arkansas-style expansion model that uses federal funds to buy private plans for low-income residents. Any proposal was expected to be tied in some way to changes to certificate-of-need rules, similar to the deal passed in North Carolina last year.
Georgia is part of a declining number of states that have not expanded Medicaid. Instead, the state adopted a partial expansion for low-income adults who meet 80 hours of work, school, or other qualifying activity each month. As of December, it had fewer than 3,000 subscribers.
Parrish said the nine-person commission will provide feedback to help determine what happens next, including whether Georgia should pursue private options to expand coverage.
“We’re going to listen to whatever they have to say,” Parrish told reporters Wednesday.
The commission, known as the Comprehensive Health Insurance Commission, will be appointed by July and is due to submit its first report in December.
“We’re hoping to get started right away,” Parrish said of plans to form a committee. “And we feel it’s important to get feedback from these people to see how this is working and how we can adjust and make it better going forward. .”
The proposal had its first hearing Wednesday, with several supporters of full Medicaid expansion urging lawmakers to act with a sense of urgency.
“Of our nearly 500,000 fellow Georgians, about 21,000 of them, many of them veterans, as well as farmers, hourly, part-time, and gig workers and their families have options to close the coverage gap. I’m looking forward to it,” Natalie said. Mr. Crawford, Executive Director of Georgia First.
“We need you to act quickly. They need a plan to close the gap now,” she added.
Leah Chang, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget Policy Institute, argued that without a full expansion, the state’s cash-strapped rural hospitals will be under even more strain each year.
“I truly feel it’s time for Georgia to make fiscally responsible choices and pivot to solutions that are more effective for Georgians and our state’s bottom line,” Chan told lawmakers. .
Some supporters of full expansion said they remain hopeful something could still happen this session.
Julie Voytek, director of government communications for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Georgia, urged lawmakers to remain focused on “immediate solutions.”
“More than 63,000 Georgians will be diagnosed with cancer this year. They can’t wait for treatment,” Voytek said in a statement. “It is important to keep options open and on the agenda during the 2024 legislative session.”
Congresswoman Michelle Au, for example, says she’s not giving up.
“Some say we were foolish for wanting it to happen, but I won’t believe it until that gavel falls on Sine Die. Because I still believe that together we can accomplish something transformative. And I think we owe it to people to keep trying until we do that,” the Johns Creek Democrat said Wednesday. He said this at a press conference held on .
Crossover day, when the bill must pass at least one chamber for smooth passage, is next Thursday. The session ends on March 28th.
Laura Colbert, executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future, said, “Rather than signing die, it’s time for lawmakers to act on this issue rather than agree to study it.” There are still many,” he said. She said, “Instead of spending another year telling the committee what we already know, lawmakers are seizing on the momentum that has been built and encouraging Georgia to close its coverage gaps this year.” We should introduce legislation to make this possible.”
The bill also faces pressure from groups such as Americans for Prosperity, which wants lawmakers to significantly roll back state certificate-of-need regulations. Meanwhile, the Georgia Hospital Association is evaluating the impact of changes aimed at loosening rules for some medical facilities.
The hospital association’s Anna Adams said: “The commission is an added bonus, but we remain committed to streamlining CON.”
Georgia Recorder reporter Ross Williams contributed to this report. georgia recorder is part of States Newsroom, a network of newsrooms supported by a coalition of grants and donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
