Georgians got their first look at Governor Brian Kemp’s health care plan Wednesday as Senator Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia), introduced the Patients First Act (SB 106) in the State Senate.
The bill has the full support of both Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston, and is co-sponsored by most of the Republican Senators.
Duncan stood by Kemp as he unveiled the plan.
“The Patients First Act is a step toward lowering insurance premiums, enhancing access to quality care, and improving health outcomes in every part of our state,” said Governor Kemp. “By working with Lt. Governor Duncan, Speaker Ralston, and the legislature, we will craft a Georgia-centric healthcare system that ensures a bright and healthy future for all Georgians – no matter their zip code.”
“Georgians deserve a health care system that is accessible, affordable, and second to none – and the Patients First Act will allow us the flexibility to craft such a system,” said Lt. Governor Duncan. “I look forward to working with Governor Kemp and Speaker Ralston to find innovative solutions and advance substantive policies that will dramatically improve health care for hundreds of thousands of Georgians. I sincerely believe our solutions are going to mirror advances we’ve seen from the private sector.”
“I appreciate Governor Kemp working with the legislature to find a conservative way to ensure access to healthcare for more Georgians,” said Speaker Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). “We are committed to moving forward in a fiscally-responsible way that avoids the perils associated with Medicaid expansion.”
The Patients First Act would give the governor wide latitude to approve a range of options in pursuit of federal “waivers” with the aim of improving government-funded health care access for the poor and middle class. However, Kemp vowed the process wouldn’t lead to outright expansion of the Medicaid program, which he has long opposed as too costly.
