Bill To Shift Decision-Making Power on Medicaid Expansion Clears First Hurdle

February 19th, 2014

Georgia’s governor currently has sole authority to opt-in to one of the Affordable Care Act’s key tenets – expanding the state Medicaid program to cover hundreds of thousands of new enrollees. However, Georgia’s legislative leaders want in on the decision.

At a subcommittee meeting Wednesday, Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, R-Milton, said it’s too important of an issue.

“It would cost within a few short years approximately $400 million a year so that is of such magnitude that I do think it is vitally important that it require a vote of the legislature,” said Jones, one of the co-sponsors of House Bill 990.

The bill, which would require legislative approval before any decision to expand Medicaid, was later approved by voice-vote and now heads to the full Non-Civil Judiciary Committee, where it’s expected to pass.

HB 990’s influential co-sponsors, including Speaker David Ralston, Majority Leader Larry O’Neil, and Majority Whip Matt Ramsey, are all staunchly opposed to the Medicaid expansion and the broader health reform law.

Last week, Gov. Deal came out in favor of the bill.

Democrats, including state Sen. Jason Carter, who’s running for governor, have accused Deal of “passing the buck” and shying away from a controversial issue.

For his part, Deal has been against expansion for some time, saying it would cost the state too much. That’s despite the federal government committing to 100 percent of the costs for the first three years, and around 90 percent thereafter.