ATLANTA (June 21, 2018) | Sen. Tonya Anderson (D – Lithonia) released the following statement on Senate Resolution 1058:
“The transfer of TRICARE costs to states is both burdensome on the already limited funding for Medicaid and unfair to the many men and women who rely on TRICARE for their health. Withholding data does not allow for the costs of healthcare to be applied through TRICARE and instead those costs are paid by the state through Medicaid. This could cost Georgia over $3 million if it is not resolved. We want the best for our veterans and TRICARE is not cooperating, making it even harder to ensure that they are well looked after and taken care of. I hope that the federal government will see this resolution and realize that data sharing must be restored between TRICARE and state Medicaid agencies.”
During the 2018 Legislative Session, Senate Resolution 1058, sponsored by Sen. Anderson, was passed urging Congress to halt the transfer of funds that are the responsibility of TRICARE (the federal government’s healthcare program for military personnel, retirees and their dependents) to state Medicaid agencies.
TRICARE costs must be exhausted before Medicaid covers the costs of veteran’s health care. TRICARE stopped sharing its data with the state of Georgia in 2017, making it impossible to determine which veterans were receiving TRICARE, and in turn, associating their healthcare costs with Medicaid.
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For Immediate Release:
June 21, 2018
Elisabeth Fletcher, Communications Specialist
elisabeth.fletcher@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028