Georgia launches Medicaid work requirements as only state with active program after Arkansas failure

Georgia implements Medicaid work requirements on July 1, 2023, the only state with an active program since Arkansas's work requirements were struck down in 2020. Georgia's program, called "Georgia Pathways," is limited to a small group of childless adults and requires 80 hours per month of work, job training, or volunteering. In its first year, the program enrolls fewer than 5,000 people — far below projections — due to complex administrative requirements and limited outreach. Proponents argue the program promotes self-sufficiency; opponents point to low enrollment as evidence that bureaucratic barriers prevent eligible people from getting coverage. Georgia's experience becomes a main data point in debates over the One Big Beautiful Bill's national work requirement mandate.