Senate Panel Backs Waiver Bill To Insure More Georgians

The Patients First Act, Gov. Brian Kemp wrote in a recent editorial, “paves the way for state leaders to craft innovative flexibility options within Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to lower health care premiums, enhance accessibility, and ensure quality outcomes in every part of our state.”

John Amis / Associated Press file

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed legislation Tuesday to allow Gov. Brian Kemp to pursue health care waivers from the federal government.

The panel’s 9-4 vote came after Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson, D-Stone Mountain, sought to open up the bill’s Medicaid waiver request to cover more Georgians.

Henson’s bid to amend Senate Bill 106, though, was not allowed by committee Chairman Ben Watson, R-Savannah.