Georgia business group hopes to 'kick start' Medicaid change

ATLANTA (AP) An influential business group is presenting three ways Georgia could expand Medicaid coverage, a key component of President Barack Obama's signature health care law that Republican lawmakers have refused to accept.

Georgia Chamber of Commerce President Chris Clark calls the options a ``kick start'' to conversations with Gov. Nathan Deal and legislators, who return to the capitol in January. The chamber's report says Georgia's rural hospitals and other hospitals need the extra funding.

The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates 600,000 uninsured Georgians don't qualify for federal subsidies to purchase insurance.

One of the chamber's options extends Medicaid to adults without children making less than $11,700. Two other options include adults making less than $16,242.

Each option takes federal approval, and a 2014 state law also requires legislative approval for Medicaid changes.