Georgia’s House Democrats held a press conference this afternoon on Medicaid expansion. The group gathered to announce House Bill 669. The legislation would provide for Medicaid expansion under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
District 117 Representative Deborah Gonzalez was among those taking part.
"We have 1.2 million Georgians currently who are uninsured," said Gonzalez. "And when you're uninsured we know that affects your access to quality healthcare."
She says the sooner Georgia expands the better, because delays could cost the state money.
"If we had done Medicaid expansion last year, the federal government would have given us 100 percent. Since we didn't and we're outside of the first three years of expanding Medicaid, we're actually going to be down to 94 percent. So we need to accept that now before that percentage gets lower and lower," said Gonzalez.
The group estimated the cost of expansion at $200 million. District 119 Representative Jonathan Wallace says the state has the money.
"Our state budget in Georgia is $26 billion dollars. So when we look at the $200 million compared to the 26 billion dollars, it is a small fraction. We can find the money to make that happen," said Wallace.
Organizers support an increase in taxes for tobacco products as one method or providing funds.
