Federal Judge Rejects Georgia’s Bid to Extend Medicaid Work Requirement Program
A federal judge ruled that the Biden administration lawfully rejected Georgia’s request to extend its Medicaid program which includes a work requirement. Georgia wanted to extend the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program from its original end date of September 2025 to 2028 but did not follow the correct procedure.
The Georgia Pathways program requires able-bodied adults earning no more than the federal poverty line to complete 80 hours of work, volunteer activity, schooling, or vocational rehabilitation each month to qualify for Medicaid. The Biden administration revoked this work requirement in 2021 but a court later reinstated it. Georgia sued again, claiming the delay shortened the program’s five-year term.
(photo: NC Health News)
Georgia’s Work Requirement Struggles: Program Falls Short of Expectations, Leaving Thousands Unenrolled
The Georgia Pathways program has only enrolled about 4,300 people, far below the expected 25,000. Critics say the work requirement is too hard, while supporters believe the program needs more time. The judge’s ruling means Georgia must follow federal rules to extend the program beyond 2025, according to the report of Independent.
