Stacey Abrams Hopes Medicaid Expansion Can be a Winning Issue in Rural Georgia

Goodnough, A. (2018 October 20). Stacey Abrams Hopes Medicaid Expansion Can be a Winning Issue in Rural Georgia. The New York Times, Online. 

In this article, Goodnough addresses the dominant campaign issue that Democratic candidates in the mid-term elections across many states are talking about in their rallies. Focusing on the Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Georgia in these midterm elections, the article highlights the rallying call by democratic candidates about the need to expand Medicaid. For Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for Georgia, the author says that the expansion of Medicaid is a top issue that she believes is a moral one. The pitching of healthcare as a human rights issue appeals to all progressive people anywhere across the United States. The expansion of Medicaid will help rural families and towns in providing healthcare to the populations because the Affordable Care Act mandates the federal government to cater for 90% of the healthcare cost through Medicaid. Therefore, the expansion of Medicaid is a priority for any Democratic candidate who wishes to outdo their Republican counterparts that are seen not in support of expanded healthcare provision through the act. In fact, the article argues that Republicans are not going to protect access to healthcare; particularly for the sick people with pre-existing conditions. Further, the author says that Democrats have demonstrated their experience and influenced more voters through the need to expand Medicaid alongside proposals concerning immigration, the economy, and the recent appointment of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. 

The need to protect people with pre-existing medical conditions is an argument that is propelling Democrats against their Republican counterparts, especially when many of the Republicans voted in attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017 when President Trump assumed the Oval office in Washington D.C. The argument about the expanded Medicaid also places the Republican candidates on the defensive as they also support a new lawsuit that seeks to invalidate the Affordable Care Act. 

The article’s other key point is that support for Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion has increased with over half the American population showing their support for the law based on the latest tracking poll. The poll indicates that about 56% of people in the 17 holdout states support the expansion of Medicaid. Further, a recent poll by Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows that about three quarters of Georgia voters support the expansion of the Medicaid. 

The article notes that the framing of the expansion of federal health coverage for the rural and urban poor is a smart move which will save many rural hospitals from closure and generate jobs outside the larger Atlanta city. However, the author notes that expansion of Medicaid is not as easy as Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate, wants her supporters to believe. In fact, it may take more than a year for her to implement the plan after winning the elections. However, polls that Ms. Abrams and her opponent, Republican Kemp Brian, are in a neck to neck competition for the race and many believe that race could be the deciding factor in this election and not healthcare issue. 

Perspective/bias of the Author 

In this reading, it is clear that the author is interested and one may believe that she supports not just the expansion of Medicaid but also the candidature of Ms. Abrams in the Georgian gubernatorial race. The author provides a comprehensive account of the benefits that the expansion of Medicaid portends for rural area residents that have seen their hospital closed and access to healthcare limited. Further, the author bias is also illustrated when she says that Democrat candidates in the 17 holdout states seem to be more experienced than their Republican counterparts in pushing for the campaign agenda and demonstrating the need for the supporters to vote for them. Most of the Republicans are conservative and do not support expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act 2010. However, the author makes it difficult to dissect and understand the opinions of Republican supporters who do not believe in expanding coverage since it is too free to be real. The expansion of healthcare coverage is a polarizing issue; especially in a deep, largely conservative south state like Georgia with more white voters than colored voters. These white conservative voters were instrumental in Trump’s election victory in 2016. The author also observes that Ms. Abram’s Medicaid expansion plan in Georgia may not be easy because of a largely Republican state assembly and their tax credit plan to revive the rural hospitals. Ms. Abram’s dismissal of these hurdles is amplified by the author’s bias as she argues that either way; the lawmakers require financial aid through expansion of the Medicaid program. 

New information 

I have learned through the reading that several hospitals in rural Georgia have closed and some are on the verge of closing and leading to limited access to healthcare and loss of jobs for many people. Further, the reading also demonstrates that Republicans in Georgia may be ignoring a healthcare problem by playing politics of not passing the expanded Medicaid to help the rural populations. The number of the uninsured in rural towns in Georgia like Eastman is higher while the political players are not keen on providing effective solutions to increase access to critical health services. 

Questions 

It follows that the reading raises fundamental questions on both sides of the political divide in the state as voters approach elections. One of the questions is; why are politicians not being honest when rural people’s access to healthcare continues to be limited as facilities close due to funding. Secondly, if the expansion of Medicaid is costly, can the state government provide a plan on how it shall fund rural hospitals that have closed while others are on the verge of closure. Thirdly, are the Democratic candidates in these midterm elections being candid that they will deliver the expanded care in the 17 holdout states that are largely Republican leaning without the support of lawmakers? 

Reference 

Goodnough, A. (2018 October 20). Stacey Abrams Hopes Medicaid Expansion Can be a 

Winning Issue in Rural Georgia. The New York Times, Online.