40 states have proved the benefits of expanded Medicaid
When the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was passed 14 years ago, Republicans predicted all sorts of dire results from Medicaid expansions. Forty states — not including Georgia — have now adopted Medicaid expansion. Republican predictions of harm have occurred in zero of these states.
In states that expanded Medicaid, death rates among low-income people have dropped significantly. There are fewer people with uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure. Deaths from breast cancer have declined. State health care costs have dropped.
It is long past time for Georgia Republicans to stop acting like we do not know what the results of Medicaid expansion will be. We now have 40 states showing the answer.
It is time for Republicans to get over the fact that the ACA nickname includes the name of a Democratic president. It is time to do what is best for the people of Georgia and adopt Medicaid expansion.
LARRY AUERBACH, ATLANTA
Make health care accessible to those without transportation
Many Georgians in rural areas rely on expensive Uber and Lyft to get to their medical appointments, according to a recent AJC article. As a social work student, I was disheartened to learn that people are missing medical appointments or spending large amounts of money to get there because of a lack of available care and transportation. Though it might not be feasible to build and staff hospitals that can treat complex ailments everywhere in Georgia, it is necessary to find a solution.
Hospitals could use their own transportation service. It could provide daily scheduled pickups similar to transportation services for airports. This would ensure handicap-accessible vehicles, consistent pickups and lower costs for patients compared with Lyft or Uber. It would transport several patients at once, maximizing the time and money spent.
Regardless of the solution, health care must become more accessible.
REBEKAH BROWN, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
