Public Comment Deadline Approaching For Governor’s Health Care Proposals

Time is running out for Georgians to weigh in on Gov. Brian Kemp’s plans to change the state’s health care landscape.

The public comment period runs through Tuesday for the governor’s plans for a limited Medicaid expansion, to tweak the state’s individual insurance marketplace, and to cut Georgia’s ties with Healthcare.gov.

Hundreds of individuals, health care organizations, and interest groups have already submitted comments by mail, via the internet, and at a series of public hearings held around the state last month.

The reception to Kemp’s plans has been mixed. Some have praised his administration for taking steps to extend insurance coverage to more low-income Georgians. Others have said the plans don’t go far enough.

People who still want to submit comments can do so online to the Georgia Department of Community Health through the end of the day Tuesday.

The state is also accepting mail-in comments, as long as they’re postmarked by Dec. 3.

For comments on the Medicaid proposal, which would expand coverage to a limited population which meets specific work requirements:

Lavinia Luca
c/o Board of Community Health
P.O. Box 1966
Atlanta, GA 30301

For comments on the individual insurance plan, which includes breaking ties with Healthcare.gov:

Ryan Loke
c/o The Office of the Governor
206 Washington St.
Suite 115, State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334

A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Community Health said the agency plans to summarize and respond to the comments in the coming weeks.