Bill > HB1276

This bill requires the Department of Community Health (DCH) to actively verify information used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, a government health insurance program for low-income individuals, rather than relying solely on recipients' own statements (self-attestation) for factors like income, residency, identity, household composition, and citizenship. To achieve this, the DCH will systematically request and review data from various state agencies, including the Departments of Corrections, Labor, and Revenue, as well as federal agencies like the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, to confirm ongoing eligibility and identify any changes that might affect it. Recipients will be required to consent to the disclosure of this information for verification purposes, and the DCH will conduct regular redeterminations of eligibility, with ineligible recipients being removed from the program, except in specific cases like death, fleeing felony status, or incarceration. The bill also limits retroactive eligibility for Medicaid benefits to a maximum of two months prior to application and mandates annual reports to the legislature detailing the implementation and impact of these new measures, including data on eligibility changes, cost savings, and recovered funds.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73117