Georgia Medicaid Work Requirements Create Coverage Barriers Amid Public Review

Recent debates over Medicaid reforms have highlighted tensions within the Republican Party and raised concerns about the future of Medicaid coverage nationwide. House Republicans' megabill delays Medicaid work requirements and verification rules until 2029, drawing criticism from fiscal hawks who argue the delays undermine promised cuts and fiscal responsibility. Since the end of the COVID-era continuous enrollment requirement in April 2023, over six million Medicaid beneficiaries have been disenrolled, sparking concerns about states' redetermination processes and leading to government scrutiny and legal challenges. In Georgia, Medicaid supports 2 million residents, but proposed federal cuts and work requirements threaten coverage, with state programs like Pathways to Coverage facing criticism for bureaucratic hurdles that prevent eligible adults from enrolling or maintaining benefits despite significant state spending. Georgia’s Pathways program, launched with a work reporting mandate, has underperformed, enrolling none of the uninsured who expressed interest and costing $92 million, prompting calls from advocates for public comments opposing such burdensome requirements. Overall, Medicaid remains a crucial yet contested program, with political and administrative challenges complicating efforts to balance budget goals and access to care.