Study: Impact of Medicaid Expansion In Georgia Would Be $8 Billion A Year

Medicaid Changes May Bring New Jobs by Carrie Teegardin and Misty Williams.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  February 13, 2013.  (Available in the print edition).

According to the study by the Healthcare Georgia Foundation, Georgia would receive $8 billion dollars a year in economic impact including about 38,000 new healthcare jobs as a result of expansion of Medicaid as provided by the Affordable Care Act.  As a result of the jobs state and local tax collections would increase by a combined $276 million.  Governor Nathan Deal opposes expansion saying that his projections show a state cost of $4.5 billion over ten years for expansion--costs, he says, the state cannot afford.  The Governor supports a block grant approach to Medicaid, an approach opposed by the Obama administration.  Opponents of expansion also say that the current Medicaid program, even without expansion, costs too much.