Georgia Medicaid Expansion Work Requirements Linked To Worse Mental Health Outcomes

Georgia's Pathways to Coverage Medicaid expansion program may have worsened mental health among Medicaid-eligible adults, according to a recent analysis. The program was implemented on July 1, 2023, and required enrollees to meet monthly work or community engagement requirements as a condition of eligibility. The researchers suggested that administrative burdens, documentation requirements, and uncertainty about maintaining eligibility may have contributed to the negative mental health outcomes.

Researchers analyzed outcomes for 8,138 Medicaid-eligible adults ages 19 to 64 across five southeastern states: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Data on mental health outcomes were obtained from . . .