LISTEN: A new report is predicting far-reaching economic impacts of any federal cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Georgia. GPB’s Ellen Eldridge has more.

A woman holds a pink signs that says, "save our lilves ... don't gut medicaid"

In this June 27, 2017 file photo, protesters block a street during a demonstration against the Republican bill in the U.S. Senate to replace former President Barack Obama's health care law.

Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File

Cuts to federal Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could result in the loss of more than 22,000 jobs in Georgia, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

The proposed cuts — outlined in the House budget resolution — would slash funding for the committees overseeing Medicaid and SNAP by more than $1 trillion over the next decade, making both programs likely targets.

The state-by-state analysis finds that, if enacted, these budget reductions could lead to 1 million jobs lost nationwide in 2026 alone.

Director of the Center for Health Policy Research at George Washington University Leighton Ku said that nearly half of job losses will be in the health care industry such as hospitals, pharmacies and nursing homes. 

But others will impact another important industry, Ku said.

"On the food side, maybe about another sixth of the jobs would be food-related," he said. "So those may be people who are working in grocery stores and food processing or in agriculture or ranching."

The state’s gross domestic product (GDP) could shrink by nearly $2.3 billion, Ku said.

Tags: Georgia  health  GDP  economy  jobs  Medicaid  SNAP benefits