Georgia governor doubles down on Medicaid program with work requirement despite slow start

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Monday defended and doubled down on his signature Medicaid program — the only one in the nation with a work requirement — further dimming chances the state could adopt a broader expansion of the taxpayer-funded low-income health plan without a work mandate any time soon.

Georgia Pathways requires all recipients to show that they performed at least 80 hours of work, volunteer activity, schooling or vocational rehabilitation in a month to qualify. It launched in July 2023, but has so far signed up a tiny fraction of eligible state residents.

Kemp touted the program Monday during a panel discussion that included Georgia Department of Community Health Commissioner Russel Carlson and Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. The governor’s office also played a video testimonial from a Pathways recipient, Luke Seaborn, 53, who praised the program and later told The Associated Press in a phone interview that it had helped him pay for an injection for nerve pain.

“Being first is not always easy,” Kemp said. But he added, “We’re going to keep chopping and keep getting people signed up.”

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