In the past few years, most states have expanded their Medicaid rolls under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Georgia’s executive and legislative leaders have stood adamantly against doing so, saying it would be too costly.

Lately, some states have worked out arrangements with the federal government to enact less conventional forms of expansion, which they feel are more flexible and fiscally more sustainable. Arkansas is one of these, and the “Arkansas model” has recently drawn the interest of some prominent Georgians who have previously opposed all Medicaid expansion.

State Rep. Jason Spencer (R-Woodbine) says following the Arkansas model would be a big mistake. He says it hasn’t worked out as advocates in that state claim, and that opening the Pandora’s box of expansion would be something Georgians come to regret. Ultimately, Medicaid expansion remains a very bad idea, he says.

Here’s a link to Rep. Spencer’s Commentary.

Georgia Health News welcomes Commentary submissions. If you would like to propose a Commentary piece for Georgia Health News, please email Andy Miller, editor of GHN, at amiller@georgiahealthnews.com