Medicaid expansion pushed

More than 40 advocacy oranizations, healthcare providers and others have formed a new coalition called “Cover Georgia” that will push the state to expand its Medicaid program, as called for under the federal health care law.

Gov. Nathan Deal has said the state can’t afford the law’s provision to expand Medicaid to Georgians with incomes below 133 percent of the federal povery level. A Supreme Court decision allows each state to decide whether it will expand. The coalition, which is spearheaded by Georgians for a Healthy Future, said the expansion would bring in billions of federal dollars and extend coverage to about 650,000 Georgians.Coalition members include the Georgia Rural Health Association, the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians, AARP Georgia, the American Cancer Society and others.