Families USA Submits Comments On Georgia Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver Extension Request

Families USA submitted comments strongly urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reject the Georgia Pathways demonstration waiver extension and all future attempts from states to adopt work reporting or so called “community engagement” requirements for Medicaid eligible populations. While Georgia’s efforts to soften their approach are a step in the right direction, the fundamental nature of the Georgia Pathways programs remains unchanged — people are denied access to Medicaid if they cannot prove they are engaged in work or other qualifying activities for 80 hours per month.

The core takeaway is that Medicaid Work Reporting Requirement programs, no matter what they are called, do not work for Georgia or for any state Medicaid program. In the comment, Families USA strongly urges CMS to consider the economic impact and human toll of Georgia’s proposed extension to its Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver.