Less than 300 sign up for Georgia Pathways to Coverage program | Georgia

(The Center Square) — Less than 300 other folks have enrolled within the new Georgia Pathways to Coverage program as of Aug. 17, state officers showed to The Center Square.

Just 265 other folks have enrolled in Georgia’s new Pathways program, which introduced on July 1. It supplies Medicaid to Georgians between 19 and 64 years outdated with a family source of revenue up to the federal poverty degree and who meet the qualifying actions threshold however aren’t eligible for common Medicaid.

In his State of the State, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, stated the state negotiated with the government at the program however blamed President Joe Biden’s management for delaying its release for extra than a 12 months. At the time, the governor indicated kind of 345,000 Georgians may qualify for the program, regardless that officers now say the estimated adoption fee used to be to achieve round 90,000 to 100,000 by way of 2025.

“While the federal government initiated and dictated a process for redetermining the qualifications of traditional Medicaid recipients, Georgia is the only state in the country simultaneously offering a new pathway to healthcare coverage and opportunity,” Garrison Douglas, a Kemp spokesperson, advised The Center Square in an e-mail. “As applications continue to be reviewed, the number of hardworking Georgians who will benefit from this new and innovative program will continue to grow.”

The new program introduced because the state reverifies Georgians’ eligibility for Medicaid. As a part of the method, by way of the top of June, the state got rid of no less than 97,237 other folks from its Medicaid roles — 90,749 as a part of a “procedural termination” and six,488 deemed ineligible.

“The recent discussions surrounding Medicaid unwinding have brought to light potential changes requiring re-enrollment and eligibility redetermination that could significantly affect individuals, senior adults, children, teens and families relying on Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids benefits,” Rep. Kim Schofield, D-Atlanta, stated in a free up saying a group match. “For many, these programs could potentially disrupt the health care stability of these families and put the health of their children at risk if they lose their benefits.”