Expansion of Medicaid

This bill updates the part of the Code of Georgia about getting medical help, generally 

• Code of Georgia: These are the rules or laws for the state of Georgia that say what people in Georgia can and cannot do.

If this bill is passed it will expand who can get Medicaid. 

• Medicaid: a big health program that makes sure people can stay healthy even if or when they don’t have a lot of money to pay for their health needs

If passed, it will give the Department of Community Health the green light to use money for Medicaid expansion

• Department of Community Health: A government office that manages healthcare in Georgia.

Goals of this bill include:

• To allow turning requests for waivers, changes to waivers, and state plan changes

  • Medicaid Waivers: Special rules that let people get more healthcare services through Medicaid that they might not usually get, like support at home instead of in a nursing home.

  • If the bill is passed waiver requests will need to be turned in by October 31, 2025  

• To let the office of the Commissioner of Insurance sign off on health plans that fit under Medicaid

  • Commissioner of Insurance: The person in charge of making sure insurance companies in Georgia follow the rules and treat people fairly.

• To set rules for reporting how the program is working, among other rules    

• To make sure people who make a small amount of money are signed up for healthcare plans that count according to this bill  

• To totally pay for monthly and direct costs for people who need that support.

• To allow the Department of Community Health to pay monthly costs and lower the costs people have to pay themselves, for some health plans.

• To have the office of the Commissioner of Insurance sign off on the health plans.

  • Office of the Commissioner of Insurance: The government office that helps the Commissioner of Insurance manage insurance companies in Georgia.

• To report every year to the General Assembly on different parts of this program

  • General Assembly: The group of people elected to make state laws in Georgia. It includes the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• To allow the rules needed to put this new part of the Georgia Code into action  

If this bill becomes law, it gets rid of any other laws that could stop this one from working.