Thread by @staceyabrams

Not-so-fun-fact: Every year Georgia doesn’t expand Medicaid, we miss out on $3 billion (billion, with a “B”) federal dollars meant to pay for Georgians' health coverage. That’s $8 million left on the table every day. Here's why that matters. 1/ gbpi.org/2018/georgia-r… #gapol

240k Georgians earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to receive subsidies available under the #ACA. They fall in a “coverage gap.”
Medicaid expansion would close that gap, providing health coverage to 473k more Georgians in '19. 2/ #gapol gbpi.org/2018/fast-fact…

But back to the $3 billion/year. The $8 million Georgia leaves on the table every single day could be used to keep our rural hospitals open, expand access to mental health care, and reduce our alarmingly high maternal and infant mortality rates. 3/ #gapol politics.myajc.com/news/state--re…

So, while 6 rural hospitals closed (since 2013) and uninsured families across our state struggle to get by, Georgia Republicans refuse to accept BILLIONS of federal dollars that should be coming back to our state. Georgia cannot afford their cruel political posturing. 4/ #gapol

Some GOP leaders are working to roll back protections for folks w/ preexisting conditions. If GA Republicans have their way, 1.8 million adult, non-elderly Georgians – with diabetes, asthma, hepatitis, even mothers who’ve given birth – could be denied health insurance. 5/ #gapol

We MUST expand Medicaid in Georgia, and protect Georgians with preexisting conditions. I supported protections for people w/ preexisting conditions in 2010, led the fight for Medicaid expansion in 2016, and will make Medicaid expansion a top priority as #GAGov. Period. 6/ #gapol