CARLTON FLETCHER: Medicaid expansion and the state GOP’s ‘big lie’

Ain’t that what you said? Ain’t that what you said? Liar!

— 3 Dog Night

In politics today, a certain former president has turned so-called “big lies” into a major talking point.

Since Donald Trump told so many documented lies during his presidency, pundits had to come up with a special name for the biggest lie of his tenure, that the presidency was somehow stolen from him. (That so many continue to believe this lie is a reminder of the gullibility of a large segment of the American public.) So now, Trump’s falsehood is the “big lie,” and his never-say-die followers — lacking in a great deal of creativity — just call anything said by an opponent — i.e. any person foolish enough to call him- or herself a Democrat — a “big lie.”

(NOTE TO SAID TRUMP FOLLOWERS: Sorry, someone claiming that they like hip-hop music when they really dig Zydeco is not in the same league as your man’s lies.)

State Republicans, who have gerrymandered themselves into control of the state Legislature, have been telling their own “big lie” for a decade-plus now. Big difference here, though, is that this lie does severe damage to our state’s health care system, leaving tens of thousands of people without insurance coverage.

The big lie Georgia’s GOP leaders keep telling their base is that expanding Medicaid in the state is just too costly. Even though the federal government has made Medicaid expansion a no-brainer by paying 90% of the cost, Georgia’s leaders keep saying the cost is too great. However, the brilliant plan Gov. Brian Kemp and his fellows have come up with is not only much less efficient, costing millions more than Medicaid expansion would cost, it covers only a fraction of the thousands lacking health care in the state.

Georgia, by the way, has the highest percentage of uninsured individuals in the nation.

The lie state leaders are telling any who will listen is that their reason for being one of only 10 states in the nation that has not expanded Medicaid is that the expansion would be too costly. Funny thing about that: During a candid one-on-one interview with former Gov. Nathan Deal (one of our state’s most effective leaders during his tenure), I was told that, “Yeah, it is costly, but you have to think of all those people who do nothing but sit on the porch all day waiting for government handouts that would be getting this expanded coverage and not earning it. We just can’t let that happen.”

Certainly Deal’s frustration — and that of others who have steadfastly opposed Medicaid expansion simply because they think people should have to work to earn such benefits — is a concern. But to keep throwing out that lie about finances just keeps getting lamer and lamer.

Kemp’s solution to the growing list of uninsured in a state that currently has a $16 billion surplus (!), the so-called Pathways plan, was an “expansion” for low-income Georgians that did not quite reach the extent traditional Medicaid would. Plus, under his plan, enrollees would have to complete 80 hours every month of work, school or other qualifying activity to gain and keep coverage.

Georgia’s program has had about 2,300 people sign up since its July launch. The governor’s office had projected that about 345,000 people could be eligible.

Here’s the astonishing truth that makes Georgia leaders’ “big Medicaid lie” so despicable: The governor’s Pathways plan costs $2,490 per person annually. Medicaid expansion would cost $496, five times less per individual.

Health care groups and hospital personnel point out that the Republican leaders’ stubbornness is costing taxpayers millions annually and that — and this will flabbergast you — the money we’re having to pay into the system is being sent to states like California and Massachusetts to pay for their Medicaid programs.

There is a hint that some state officials are starting to think about maybe considering this Medicaid expansion deal after all. (Perhaps it has something to do with how ineffectual and petty they look when the numbers are considered.) They, of course, want some quid pro quo, to tie it in with changes — or outright elimination of — the state’s certificate of need law.

But giving in would embarrass Kemp, whose every move now seems to be geared toward his future political aspirations. (Senate? Presidency?) So don’t expect our state’s top executive to lose face by allowing the failure of his own ill-conceived Medicaid plan to be replaced with a plan that makes more sense. Even if it would help a lot more people.

But then, who says making sense is politically astute these days? Nah, now you just tell your own big lie.