Medicaid in Georgia aids millions, costs billions: Time to cut?

Dorothy Mae Harbin (Dot) and Oliver Jennings, Harbin’s friend who frequently stops by Harding’s room after visiting his mother-in-law catch up with each other. Dot is 88 years old, with only her son (immediate family) still alive, Harbin is forced to live in the Cumming Nursing Center. Harbin will be greatly affected if the Senate Health Care Bill is passed. Chad Rhym/Chad.Rhym@ajc.com

Dorothy Mae Harbin (Dot) and Oliver Jennings, Harbin’s friend who frequently stops by Harding’s room after visiting his mother-in-law catch up with each other. Dot is 88 years old, with only her son (immediate family) still alive, Harbin is forced to live in the Cumming Nursing Center. Harbin will be greatly affected if the Senate Health Care Bill is passed. Chad Rhym/Chad.Rhym@ajc.com

One federal program pays for a nursing home room for a woman in Cumming, a job coach for a disabled man in Toco Hill, and regular medical care for a Savannah pediatrician's child clients: Medicaid. It's sprawling program that conservatives say has grown too big.

Senate GOP leaders left for the July 4 holiday week set back by opposition to their plan to repeal Obamacare, the federal health care law, but determined to negotiate a compromise.

If they succeed, one thing that's likely to stay in the bill one way or another is fundamental changes to Medicaid, and substantial cutbacks. Read the full story of what's at stake for Georgians here. Beneficiaries of the program fear they will be pitted against each other for what remains of the budget. Taxpayers concerned about the deficit say something must be done.