(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Today, U.S. Representatives and Co-Chairs of the House Medicaid Expansion Caucus joined the nonprofit Protect Our Care to advocate for Medicaid expansion in the state of Georgia, among others.
“Every day we don’t expand Medicaid in Georgia is a day we lose out on millions in federal investments to our state but more importantly thousands of Georgians who lose out on life-saving, affordable health care,” said Rep Hank Johnson (D-GA). “It’s really tragic that some Georgians actually lose their lives because they don’t have access to the health care system. Our legislature needs to expand Medicaid in our state. It’ll help about 650,000 Georgians access the health care system.”
The renewed push comes after North Carolina voted to expand the program and extend healthcare to almost 600,000 North Carolinians.
The state, long dominated by heavy Republican opposition to the program, passed the bill after a sizeable group of Republicans broke with their party and joined Democrats to push it through. It was signed into law by Democratic governor Roy Cooper earlier this year.
Georgia remains one of just ten states in the Union that’s refused to join the healthcare program. Governor Brian Kemp is quick to point out the flaws in the system, advocating for a system of waivers that his administration says will work better for rural Georgians.