Senate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB380: SB380 Medical Assistance; authorization of appropriations for obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers of Medicaid expansion; provide

Last action January 13, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred

A Georgia Senate bill would authorize the state to fund its share of expanding Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, but only if the federal government pays at least 90 percent of the cost.

In plain language

Georgia has not expanded its Medicaid program under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the related Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. This bill would add a new section to Georgia's Medicaid law (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-142.6) directing the Department of Community Health to authorize state appropriations, meaning state funding, needed to draw down matching federal money for Medicaid payments to health care providers under an expanded program. The new law includes a condition: the state would only have to authorize this funding if the federal government covers at least 90 percent of the cost of expansion. If federal funding ever drops below that 90 percent threshold, the state would not be required to authorize the appropriations. The bill also repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

What the bill does

Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-142.6) directing the Department of Community Health to authorize state funding to obtain federal matching money for Medicaid expansion.
Ties the funding to Medicaid expansion under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
Sets a condition that the state funding requirement applies only if the federal government provides at least 90 percent of the cost of expansion.
Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new provision.

Who it affects

The bill affects the Georgia Department of Community Health, which would authorize the funding; health care providers who serve Medicaid recipients and would receive payments; and low-income Georgians who could become eligible for Medicaid coverage if the state expands the program.

Why it matters

If enacted, the bill would commit Georgia to funding its share of Medicaid expansion, which could extend health coverage to more low-income adults and change payments flowing to hospitals and other providers, but only as long as federal funding stays at 90 percent or higher.

Key provisions

Section 1 adds new Code section 49-4-142.6 to Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the state's Medicaid law.
Subsection (a) directs the Department of Community Health to authorize appropriations for federal financial participation in Medicaid payments and for the state's share of expansion costs under the ACA and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
Subsection (b) states the appropriations authorization is not required if the federal government provides less than 90 percent of the funding.
Section 2 repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

Status timeline

2026-01-13Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2026-01-12Senate Hopper (Senate)

Topics

Medicaid expansion
health care funding
Affordable Care Act
state budget
health coverage