Georgia's alternative to expanding Medicaid under the ACA has cost $26.6 million through Dec. 31, with 90% of that money going toward administrative and consulting costs, KFF Health News reported March 20.
The state's limited Medicaid expansion with work requirements, dubbed Georgia Pathways to Coverage, began July 1. About 3,500 people have signed up for the program, a far cry from the state's projection that 25,000 residents would enroll in the first year, according to the report.
Consulting firm Deloitte was paid $2.4 million to prepare and submit the program's application to the federal government and as of Dec. 31, only $2 million was paid to insurers to cover medical care. In the fourth quarter of 2023, administrative costs increased by more than $6 million, according to KFF Health News.
Under the Pathways program, enrollees earning up to the federal poverty level — with some exceptions — must complete 80 hours of work, job training, education or community service per month to receive coverage.