ROBERT A. CLAY: Georgia must expand Medicaid

Georgia has hundreds of thousands of the working poor making too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but not enough to participate in the federal healthcare exchange. Medicaid expansion was designed to provide a safety net for these low-income citizens. Georgia’s political leaders have refused to expand Medicaid, though it is initially 100 percent federally funded, gradually reducing to 90 percent.

Gov. Deal defended his decision by saying it would cost over $200 million in FY 2017. This amount pales in comparison to the $6 billion in federal funds that would have come to Georgia for Medicaid expansion. These funds would have provided a safety net for those unable to buy unsubsidized health insurance, created thousands of jobs and improved the financial health of hospitals.

While the governor is unwilling to expand Medicaid, he is willing to budget taxpayer dollars to subsidize health insurance for state elected officials, state employees, teachers and retirees. He pushed for and received federal funds for expansion at the Port of Savannah (a good thing) and other initiatives. Even Gov. Perdue accepted federal stimulus funds to help struggling Georgians.

In my opinion, it is inevitable that something will be done to provide access to healthcare for the working poor. In the meantime, an untold number of preventable illnesses and deaths will occur. I urge the governor and Legislature to correct this injustice during the current session. Although the governor will be a lame duck in two years, every seat in the Legislature will be on the ballot in 2016 and 2018.

ROBERT A. CLAY

DeSoto