Three Democratic U.S. senators are asking the Government Accountability Office to investigate the costs of Georgia's Medicaid work requirement program, KFF Health News reported Dec. 18.
Four things things to know:
1. As an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the ACA, Georgia launched a program in July 2023 dubbed "Georgia Pathways to Coverage." 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.
2. As of Nov. 1, there are 5,542 people enrolled in the program, which has spent millions in federal and state dollars on administration and consulting fees, according to the report.
3. A letter from Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock asked the GAO to prepare a detailed summary of the administrative costs associated with the program, according to the report. They are seeking information on the federal government's share of those costs, a breakdown of the cost per enrollee, a summary of how the state is using contractors to implement and administer the eligibility restrictions, and details on how federal officials have overseen the program.
4. A spokesperson for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp told the outlet that the senators "should be more focused on examining the failures of the federal government to adequately provide the services they’re required to administer than looking for every opportunity to criticize states that are taking innovative approaches."