Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s new health plan for low-income adults has enrolled only 1,343 people through the end of September about three months after launching. The AJC reports the Georgia Department of Community Health has projected up to 100,000 people could eventually benefit from Georgia Pathways to Coverage.
But the nation’s only Medicaid program that makes recipients meet a work requirement is off to a very slow start. Some critics say the program's slow progress as compared to Medicaid expansion in other states reflects fundamental flaws.
They note that it’s happening just as the state, as part of a federally mandated review, is kicking tens of thousands of people off its Medicaid rolls — at least some of whom could be eligible for Pathways.
The Governor has argued full expansion would cost too much money. State officials and supporters of Pathways say the work requirement will also help transition Medicaid recipients to better, private health insurance, and argue that working, studying, or volunteering leads to improved health.
