ATLANTA (AP) — Plans to expand Medicaid coverage to over half a million more people in Georgia and Kansas were defeated by Republican-led committees in the states’ legislatures Thursday.

As of now, there are only 10 states that do not provide coverage for individuals with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty line. This is because North Carolina recently started offering Medicaid to adults without insurance in December.

Democratic senator David Lucas from Macon, Georgia stated that representatives from all political parties should take advantage of federal incentive funds to cover the initial two years of extended insurance.

Lucas addressed the committee, expressing concern over the fact that Georgia is still not utilizing the $1.2 billion in funds waiting for them in D.C. He questioned how much longer this money will remain unclaimed.

KFF, a health research group, estimates that expanding Medicaid could provide coverage for over 430,000 uninsured adults in Georgia and 150,000 in Kansas.

Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat from Kansas, had initially anticipated that federal funding and additional funds would be enough to finance the $715 million needed for expanding Medicaid. She had also hoped that these funds would eliminate any costs for the state and even leave extra money for social services spending worth $62 million.

However, the Republican members of the health committee were doubtful of the governor’s projections and questioned the capacity of medical providers to handle the influx of thousands of new Medicaid patients. As a result, they refused to pass the bill to the full House. The only individuals in favor of the bill were the five Democrats on the 17-member committee.

The Democrats of Georgia have accused the Republican leaders of the GOP-led legislature of breaking their commitment to push forward the bill for expanding Medicaid in the Senate. This bill aims to provide private health insurance for low-income adults who do not currently have coverage. The use of private insurance may mean increased payments for healthcare providers compared to the current Medicaid plan in Georgia.

The proposal was voted against by the Georgia Senate’s Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities with a 7-7 vote; two Republicans and five Democrats voted in support of it.

The Republican party’s refusal to expand Medicaid stems from their disapproval of Democratic President Barack Obama’s notable Affordable Care Act, which involves the federal government providing 90% of the funding. Certain conservatives are also hesitant about what they view as a significant growth in government involvement.

According to Kansas Representative Carrie Barth, I view the Medicaid expansion as a form of socialized medicine and I don’t believe that the United States, being a capitalist country, should adopt it.

The primary concern in Georgia is the current Pathways plan implemented by Republican Governor Brian Kemp. This plan provides insurance to individuals who earn up to the poverty level, but requires them to document 80 hours of monthly work, studying, rehabilitation, or volunteering in order to be eligible. However, the plan has had low enrollment numbers since it went into effect in July, with only approximately 3,500 people signing up. This is significantly lower than the 100,000 individuals that the Kemp administration had anticipated.

Republican Senator Ben Watson, a physician from Savannah, advised the state Senate committee that the matter may require additional time to develop. He suggested allowing it to progress further before making a decision.

Watson isn’t normally a panel member but was added specially for the meeting by Republican leaders, providing the deciding “no” vote. Other Republicans pointed to the price tag, which Lucas estimated at $580 million a year, as well as other details.

This year, there was increased optimism for the expansion of Medicaid in Georgia following the announcement by Republican House Speaker Jon Burns that he would consider the possibility. However, no legislation was passed and Burns ultimately chose to form a study committee that will convene over the course of the following year.

The governor of Georgia has not explicitly stated that he would reject a wider expansion, but has consistently prioritized Pathways. This program includes adults who make up to the poverty threshold of $15,060 for an individual. Lucas’ proposal aimed to cover individuals up to 138% of the poverty line, equivalent to $20,782.

Reworded: The governor’s choice to take legal action against the federal government in order to prolong the program was commonly interpreted as a signal of his opposition to expanding healthcare coverage. The Pathways program was set to expire in 2025, but Kemp filed a lawsuit in an attempt to extend it until 2028. The proposed alternative plan, which would have needed special approval from the federal government, would not have been implemented until the Pathways program concluded.

Similar to North Carolina, Georgia Democrats have attempted to connect the expansion of Medicaid with talks of decreasing the standards for obtaining health care permits, also referred to as certificates of need. Some Democrats opted for a version of the bill in the Senate that would decrease permit requirements more than what was initially proposed in the House. Nonetheless, Democratic Minority Leader Gloria Butler from Stone Mountain stated that their support was contingent upon discussions of Medicaid expansion.

___

Hanna provided updates from Topeka, Kansas.