"Pressure Mounts on Red States to Expand Medicaid Coverage Despite Opposition"

Republican-dominated states in the South, including Georgia, are facing increasing pressure to expand Medicaid despite initial resistance. North Carolina's successful expansion has prompted GOP power brokers in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia to consider following suit. Georgia lawmakers are exploring alternative models, such as using Medicaid expansion dollars to fund private insurance plans, but Governor Brian Kemp remains skeptical and has only implemented a limited expansion with a work requirement. Despite leaving billions of federal dollars on the table and concerns about economic competitiveness, the future of Medicaid expansion in Georgia remains uncertain.